Patients with health insurance in Vietnam shall not be required to purchase medicines and medical equipment themselves in Vietnam

Patients with health insurance in Vietnam shall not be required to purchase medicines and medical equipment themselves in Vietnam

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam requires medical examination and treatment facilities to ensure adequate supply of medicines and medical equipment for participants in the health insurance scheme. Patients should not be required to purchase medicines or medical equipment themselves, especially those that are already included in the cost structure of medical examination and treatment services and are within the coverage for health insurance participants.

In cases of shortage of medicines and medical equipment due to objective and force majeure reasons as defined in Circular 22/2024/TT-BYT, which regulates the direct payment of costs for medicines and medical equipment to individuals holding a health insurance card during medical examination and treatment, medical facilities should direct and transfer patients to other medical facilities with sufficient medicine and equipment.

In the event that a medical facility must prescribe that a health insurance participant personally purchase medicines and medical equipment, the facility should provide information, guidance, and advice on the benefits and coverage levels of the patient's health insurance; clearly inform the patient about the unavailability of medicines and medical equipment and the relevant regulations in Circular 22/2024/TT-BYT so that the patient can decide and comply with the provisions of the Circular.

Additionally, on November 27, 2024, the National Assembly passed Law No. 51/2024/QH15 amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Health Insurance, which includes additional provisions for the transfer of medicines and medical equipment between medical facilities in certain cases to provide additional mechanisms to ensure medicines and medical equipment for health insurance patients.

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam advises medical examination and treatment facilities to thoroughly study the provisions of the Law for implementation.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 7656/BYT-BH dated December 10, 2024.

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