New Policies Effective from Early March 2018

1. Some Notes When Prescribing Outpatient Treatment Drugs

Circular 52/2017/TT-BYT on regulations of prescriptions and prescriptions of chemical drugs and biological products in outpatient treatment issued by the Minister of Health on December 29, 2017, and officially applied from March 1, 2018.

From March 1, 2018, when prescribing drugs, the prescribing doctor needs to pay attention to the following content:

- For children under 72 months old, the age in months must be recorded, and the name and ID number or CCCD number of the father or mother or guardian of the child must be recorded (currently only the age in months and the name of the father or mother are required);- When prescribing drugs with a single active ingredient: International Nonproprietary Name (INN, generic) or International Nonproprietary Name + (trade name). For drugs with multiple active ingredients or biological products, the trade name must be recorded;- If the prescription contains toxic drugs, the toxic drugs must be listed before other drugs;- Diagonally cross out the remaining blank part of the paper from below the prescription content to above the signature of the prescriber from top to bottom, from left to right; sign, write (or stamp) the full name of the prescriber.

1. Prepaid Mobile Subscribers Will No Longer Receive 50% Promotion

This is the official regulation applied from March 1, 2018, according to Circular 47/2017/TT-BTTTT issued by the Minister of Information and Communications on the promotional limit for terrestrial mobile information services.

The network providers (Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone) may only extend a maximum discount of 20% to prepaid mobile subscribers, thus prepaid subscribers will no longer enjoy the 50% promotion.

Postpaid subscribers, on the other hand, can still receive promotions of up to 50% as per current regulations.

Circular 47/2017/TT-BTTTT is effective from March 1, 2018, and replaces the promotional limit provisions in Clauses 9, 10 of Article 5; Clauses 3, 4, 6, and 7 of Article 8; Clause 2 of Article 9, and Article 10 of Circular 11/2010/TT-BTTTT.

1. Guidelines for Work-Related Accident Medical Examination Dossier

The Ministry of Health issued Circular 56/2017/TT-BYT guiding the Social Insurance Law and the Law on Occupational Safety and Hygiene.

The regulation on the first-time medical examination dossier due to a work-related accident includes:

- A referral letter from the employer (According to Appendix 1) or a medical examination request (according to Appendix 2 attached to Circular 56);- The original or a valid copy of the injury certificate issued by the medical facility (where the worker was treated) according to the form in Decision 4069/2001/QD-BYT dated September 28, 2001;- The original or a valid copy of the Labor Accident Investigation Report (According to Appendix 7 attached to Joint Circular 12/2012/TTLT- BLDTBXH-BYT dated May 21, 2012);- Hospital discharge paper or a summary of the medical record;- One of the photo-attached identification papers such as ID card; CCCD; valid Passport, or a confirmation letter from the communal police with a photo and a sealed signature.

Circular 56/2017/TT-BYT is effective from March 1, 2018, replacing Circular 14/2016/TT-BYT.

1. New Guidelines on the Boundary of Customs Operation Areas

Decree 12/2018/ND-CP amends Decree 01/2015/ND-CP specifying the detailed scope of customs operation areas; and responsibilities for coordination in preventing smuggling and illegal cross-border transportation of goods.

The new regulation on the boundary of customs operation areas at the following checkpoints:

- Bac Luan, Hoanh Mo (Quang Ninh province);- Tan Thanh (Lang Son province);- Nam Giang (Quang Nam province);- Buprang, Dakpeur, Dak Rue (Dak Nong and Dak Lak provinces);- Hoa Lu (Binh Phuoc).

Details are available in the Appendix attached to Decree 12/2018/ND-CP, which becomes effective from March 10, 2018, replacing the Appendix attached to Decree 01/2015/ND-CP.

1. List of Livestock Breeds Permissible for Business in Vietnam from March 3, 2018

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Circular 01/2018/TT-BNNPTNT on the list of livestock breeds that are permissible for production and business in Vietnam, replacing the list attached to Circular 25/2015/TT-BNNPTNT.

Accordingly:

- Appendix I: List of livestock breeds permissible for production and business in Vietnam;- Appendix II: Adding HS codes for some livestock breeds permissible for production and business in Vietnam in Appendix 18 of Circular 24/2017/TT-BNNPTNT.

For details of the list, refer to Circular 01/2018/TT-BNNPTNT officially effective from March 3, 2018.

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