Vietnam: Procedures for notification of positive HIV test results by HIV-positive people to their spouse

Specifically, according to Clause 4 Article 6 of the Circular No. 02/2020/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, persons infected with HIV shall notify his/her HIV infection status to his/her spouse or fiancé/fiancée; and notify his/her HIV infection status to the healthcare workers who provide direct care and treatment to him/her for preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS.

Procedures for notification of positive HIV test results by HIV-positive people to their spouse or fiancé(e)s are guided in Article 12 of Circular No. 02/2020/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam as follows:

Step 1: After notifying the positive HIV test result to the HIV-positive person, the healthcare worker shall instruct the HIV-positive person to notify his/her HIV infection status to his/her spouse or fiancé(e). If the HIV-positive person is unfit to notify his/her HIV infection status to his/her spouse or fiancé(e), he/she may authorize the healthcare worker (hereinafter referred to as “authorized person”) to notify it to his/her spouse or fiancé(e). The authorized person shall assume responsibility to keep confidentiality of information and status of the HIV-positive person in accordance with the Law on HIV/AIDS control.

Step 2: After being authorized, the authorized person shall notify the HIV infection status to the spouse or fiancé(e) of the HIV-positive person according to Point b and Point c Clause 2 Article 8 of the Decision No. 2673/QD-BYT dated April 27, 2018 of the Minister of Health.

Besides, Circular No. 02/2020/TT-BYT also guides procedures for notification of positive HIV test results to healthcare workers giving direct care and treatment to HIV-positive people:

1. When receiving healthcare services, the HIV-positive person shall notify his/her HIV infection status to the doctor. If an HIV-positive person receives HIV/AIDS examination and treatment, he/she must present the HIV test report to the doctor.

2. The doctor shall notify the patient’s HIV infection status to other healthcare workers who also give care and treatment to that patient.

View more details at the Circular No. 02/2020/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, effective from March 15, 2020.

Thu Ba

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE