Vietnam: Determination of number of times, prices and payment for medical services according to Circular No. 39/2018

According to Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, the determination of number of times, prices and payment for medical services in certain cases is specified as follows:

Firstly, for one-time examination in a single medical facility (such examination can be finished in one day or last for 2 days due to subjective reasons or professional requirements), if the patient is required to undergo more than one specialist examination, the price for the second examination onwards shall be equal to 30% of the price for one-time examination and the maximum price for such -medical examination shall not exceed 2 times the price for one-time examination.

Secondly, if a patient undergoes medical examination in examination department then is transferred to inpatient department for treatment as required by professionals, payment for medical examination shall be made in accordance with the above provision.

Thirdly, for medical facilities providing specialist examination service in clinical departments, examination conducted in examination department and specialist examinations in clinical department will be counted as examination in medical examination department. A number of times for medical examination will be counted and the price for such examination service will be determined in accordance with regulations in Clause 3 Article 5 of this Circular.

Fourthly, for patients undergoing examination in regional polyclinics then being transferred to hospitals or medical centers of district level for another medical examination, such examination shall be counted as a new examination.

Fifthly, medical facilities are required to arrange medical examination tables and allocate staff as required to ensure the examination quality.

- For examination tables of more than 65 examinations per day, the social insurance agency shall only pay 50% of the examination price from the 66th examination;

- If there are still 65 examinations conducted in one medical examination table in a quarter, the insurance agency shall not pay the price for the 66th examination and onward.

View relevant provisions at: Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam takes effect from January 15, 2019. The medical service prices in Appendix I, II, III hereof shall be applied from December 15, 2018.

- Nguyen Trinh -

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