New cases eligible for issuance of practising licenses in Vietnam from January 1, 2024

What is practising license?

Pursuant to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 (effective from January 1, 2024), license to practice medicine is a written document issued by a competent authority of Vietnam to a person fully qualified to practice medical examination and treatment in accordance with this Law (hereinafter referred to as practising license).

Each medical practitioner may be awarded only one practising license that is valid for use nationwide.

Each practising license shall include but not limited to the following information:

- Full name; date of birth; personal identification number for Vietnamese practitioners; Passport number and nationality for foreign practitioners;

- Professional title;

- Scope of practice;

- Validity period or expiry date of the practicing license.

New cases eligible for issuance of practising licenses in Vietnam from January 1, 2024 (Internet image)

New cases eligible for issuance of practising licenses in Vietnam from January 1, 2024

Pursuant to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 30 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023, a practising license may be issued to:

- A person who first applies for the practising license;

- A medical practitioner whose professional title specified in his/her practising license is changed;

- A person whose practising license is revoked as prescribed in regulations on issuance of practising licenses of the Government;

- Other persons as decided by the Government.

Recognition of practising licenses issued by competent foreign bodies or entities in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 29 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023, practising licenses issued by competent foreign bodies or entities shall be considered for recognition when fully meeting the following conditions:

- These practising licenses are recognized under international treaties of which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member state, or international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory; are issued by competent foreign bodies or entities that have been assessed and recognized by the Ministry of Health as prescribed in clause 3 of Article 29 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023;

- These practising licenses remain valid at the time of application for recognition;

- These practising licenses contain information about professional titles that shall be equivalent to one of the professional titles specified in point a, b, c, d, dd, e, g and h of clause 1 of Article 26 Article 29 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023.

Recognition procedures shall be as follows:

- The practising license holder sends the application package for recognition to the Ministry of Health, including the application form for recognition and the valid copy of the practising license in question;

- Within 30 days of receipt of the application package, the Ministry of Health is obliged to send a response stating acceptance or refusal of grant of recognition;

- Where it is necessary to verify matters relating to the applicant’s training in foreign countries, the duration of decision to grant recognition shall be 30 days from the day on which verification results are available.

Assessment for accreditation of a foreign body or entity issuing practising licenses shall deal with:

- Its training system;

- Its system, processes and procedures for award of practising licenses, and regulations on professional titles and scope of practice.

Holders of the practising licenses issued by competent foreign bodies or entities that are recognized in Vietnam shall be exempted from the requirement for practising as medical interns that are set forth in Article 23 Article 29 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023, and taking qualification tests that are specified in Article 24 Article 29 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023.

Mai Thanh Loi

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