Regulations on hospital-acquired infection control in Vietnam

Regulations on hospital-acquired infection control in Vietnam (Image from Internet)

1. Regulations on hospital-acquired infection control in Vietnam

According to Article 74 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023, the regulations on hospital-acquired infection control in Vietnam are as follows:

- hospital-acquired infection control includes the following measures:

+ Monitoring infections at medical establishments and diseases at risk of causing epidemics;

+ Monitoring compliance with infection control practices;

+ Standard prevention, prevention based on modes of transmission;

+ Infection control for medical instruments and equipment;

+ Hand hygiene;

+ Environmental hygiene;

+ Prevention and management of infections related to microorganisms;

+ Food safety;

+ Other infection control measures.

- medical establishments have the following responsibilities:

+ Implement the infection control measures at the medical establishments as specified in Clause 1, Article 74 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023;

+ Ensure infrastructure, equipment, protective clothing, personal hygiene conditions for staff at the medical establishments, patients, and others coming to the facilities in accordance with infection control requirements;

+ Provide advice on infection control measures to patients and their relatives;

+ Organize an infection control system at the medical establishments.

2. Rights of medical establishments in Vietnam

The rights of medical establishments in Vietnam according to Article 59 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 are as follows:

- Carry out medical examination and treatment activities in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023.

- Have the right to refuse medical examination and treatment in the following cases:

+ Beyond professional capability or not within the scope of the facility's professional activities, except for emergency cases specified in Article 61 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023.

+ Fall under one of the cases specified in Clauses 3, 4, and 5 of Article 40 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023.

- Charge fees related to medical examination and treatment activities as prescribed by law.

- Enjoy preferential policies when performing medical examination and treatment activities as prescribed by law.

- Conclude health insurance examination and treatment contracts with social insurance agencies in accordance with the law on health insurance; and conclude contracts with other insurance organizations as prescribed by the law on insurance business to provide medical examination and treatment.

- Cooperate with domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in medical examination and treatment activities.

- Be permitted to organize the provision of care and support services upon the request of patients or their representatives.

- Private medical establishments may participate in bidding or be ordered by the State to provide certain medical services included in the list of public service sectors funded entirely or partially by the state budget.

3. Responsibilities of medical establishments in Vietnam

The responsibilities of medical establishments according to Article 60 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 are as follows:

- Organize first aid, emergency, and medical examination and treatment promptly for patients.

- Comply with professional technical regulations and other relevant legal provisions; be responsible for the results of medical examination and treatment of practitioners under their management.

- Publicly display working hours and the list of practitioners, as well as the working hours of each practitioner at the facility.

- Post service prices for medical examination, treatment, and care and support services upon request at the facility and on the Information System for the Management of Medical Examination and Treatment Activities.

- Ensure the implementation of the rights and obligations of patients and practitioners as prescribed by the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023.

- Ensure the necessary conditions for practitioners to carry out medical examination and treatment.

- Self-assess quality and publicly disclose quality assessment results as prescribed in Clauses 3 and 5, Article 58 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023.

- Comply with mobilization and dispatch decisions of competent authorities in cases of natural disasters, catastrophes, group A infectious diseases, or emergency situations.

- Organize security forces and ensure physical conditions to maintain security and order appropriate to the organization form and scale of the facility; cooperate with competent police authorities in implementing security and order measures at the medical examination and treatment facility; notify competent local police authorities to coordinate protection measures for patients who are victims of violence or abuse.

- Introduce and transfer patients to other suitable medical establishments based on the patient's condition and request in the following cases:

+ Patient's condition exceeds the professional capability or is not within the professional scope of the facility;

+ At the request of the patient or the patient’s representative and with the consent of the practitioner directly treating the patient or the clinical director;

+ Temporary suspension or revocation of activity license;

+ Force majeure incidents that prevent the facility from continuing to receive or treat patients.

- Participate in preventive healthcare activities as prescribed by law.

- Purchase professional liability insurance in medical examination and treatment activities according to the regulations of the Government of Vietnam.

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