Conditions for organization of pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines in Vietnam

Conditions for organization of pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. What is exposure to HIV?

Exposure to HIV is the exposure by direct contact with blood or bio-fluids of an HIV-infected person and at risk of getting infected with HIV.

Specifically, HIV is the abbreviation of the English phrase Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is the virus that causes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome in human, causing the body to lose the ability to fight disease-causing agents

(Clause 1 and 7, Article 2 of the Law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control 2006)

2. Conditions for organization of pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines in Vietnam

2.1. Conditions for organization of pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines for healthcard establishments in Vietnam

According to Clause 2, Article 10 of Decree 63/2021/ND-CP, the conditions for organization of pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines for healthcare establishments include:

- The facilities must meet the requirements in Decree 109/2016/ND-CP and Decree 155/2018/ND-CP;

- Doctors or medical assistants in charge of pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines must have a practitioner certificate in medical examination/treatment and certificate of completion of training in pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines issued by competent training institution.

2.2. Conditions for organization of pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines for other healthcare facilities in Vietnam

Conditions for organization of pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines for other healthcare facilities are specified in Clause 2, Article 10 of Decree 63/2021/ND-CP as follows:

- Facilities and equipment for pre-exposure prophylaxis of the facilities must meet the requirements in Decree 109/2016/ND-CP and Decree 155/2018/ND-CP;

- In-charge doctors or medical assistants must have a practitioner certificate in medical examination/treatment and certificate of completion of training in pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines issued by competent training institution.

3. Persons requiring pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines in Vietnam

Specifically, in Article 9 of Decree 63/2021/ND-CP, the persons requiring pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medicines include:

(1) Persons having same-sex sexual relationships.

(2) Persons having undergone sex reassignment.

(3) Narcotic substance users.

(4) Sex workers.

(5) Spouses of HIV-positive persons; spouses of persons mentioned in (1), (2), (3) and (4).

(6) Persons having sexual relationships with HIV-positive persons.

4. State policies on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam

State policies on HIV/AIDS prevention and control include:

- To encourage domestic and foreign agencies, organizations and individuals to cooperate and support in all forms in HIV/AIDS prevention and control; to encourage the development of self-care models organized by HIV-infected people.

- To support the domestic production of ARVs; to take measures to reduce prices of ARVs.

- To encourage enterprises, agencies and peoples' armed force units to train and employ HIV-infected people and their family members or to invest resources in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

- To mobilize the participation of the whole society and the financial and technical contributions of domestic and foreign agencies, organizations and individuals in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

- To mobilize and coordinate resources for HIV/AIDS prevention and control suitable to national socio-economic conditions and HIV/AIDS epidemic situation in each period.

- To support scientific research, experts exchange and training, and technology transfer in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

- To support the prevention and control of mother-to-child HIV transmission, the rearing of under-six-month babies born to HIV-infected mothers with substitute milk, and support AIDS patients in particularly difficult circumstances.

- To treat, care for and support people infected with HIV due to occupational accidents.

(Article 6 of the Law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control 2006)

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