The Ministry of Health to rectify the transfer of patients between medical facilities in Vietnam

The Ministry of Health to rectify the transfer of patients between medical facilities in Vietnam

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam received complaints from patients and media agencies about the referral of patients at some hospitals that did not comply with regulations; transferring patients to private medical facilities for self-seeking purposes, affecting the interests of people participating in health insurance.

Rectify the above activities, the Ministry of Health requires hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health of Vietnam and universities, Departments of health of provinces and cities, and heads of health of ministries and branches to do the following:

- Implement patient referral according to Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT regulating the transfer between medical examination and treatment facilities and Circular 40/2015/TT-BYT regulating the registration of medical examination and treatment with initial health insurance and referral for medical examination and treatment with health insurance.

- The Department of Health directs affiliated hospitals, when transferring patients to the Central Eye Hospital for medical examination and treatment, to contact and consult remotely via the information technology system for the Central Eye Hospital to arrange treatment for patients.

In case the Central Eye Hospital does not have supplies, drugs, and equipment, the hospital will refer patients to other hospitals capable of performing the techniques.

- Hospital leaders understand that practitioners do not transfer patients to inappropriate medical examination and treatment establishments or private medical examination and treatment establishments for self-seeking purposes, violating the provisions of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

- In case the hospital affiliated with the Ministry of Health, a university, or the last-line hospital has techniques that are temporarily suspended or cannot be performed due to a lack of drugs, supplies, or equipment, the Ministry of Health requires the hospital to publish them on the hospital's website so that people can know and report it to the direct management agency.

Official Dispatch 2462/BYT-KCB was issued on April 26, 2023.

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