What are procedures for notifying HIV-positive test results to individuals tested for HIV at medical facilities in Vietnam?

What are procedures for notifying HIV-positive test results to individuals tested for HIV at medical facilities in Vietnam? (Image from Internet)

1. What are procedures for notifying HIV-positive test results to individuals tested for HIV at medical facilities in Vietnam?

According to Article 5 of Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT, the procedures for notifying HIV-positive test results to individuals tested for HIV at medical facilities in Vietnam are as follows:

- Upon receiving the Form, the lab department retains 01 Form and forwards 01 Form to the physician directly examining the individual tested for HIV.

- The physician directly consults and returns the Form to the individual tested for HIV or forwards the Form to the assigned person to consult and return the Form to the individual tested for HIV.

- In case the individual tested for HIV needs to be admitted to a medical examination and treatment facility for treatment, the physician transfers the Form along with the medical records to the department/ward where the individual is transferred. The person assigned at the department/ward where the individual tested for HIV receives treatment is responsible for notifying the department head, the physician, and the nurse directly caring for, treating the patient.

- In case the individual tested for HIV is transferred to another medical examination and treatment facility, it is handled as follows:

+ Transferred for HIV/AIDS treatment: the medical examination and treatment facility sends the Form to the receiving facility.

+ Transferred for the treatment of other diseases and technical medical procedures per the provisions of clause 4, Article 6 of Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT.

- In cases where the individual tested for HIV is under 18 years of age, lacks civil capacity, has difficulties in perception, mastering behavior, and has restricted behavioral capacity, the notification and handing over of the Form is conducted as follows:

+ Notification and handover of the Form are carried out simultaneously for individuals under 15 years of age, those lacking civil capacity, those with difficulties in perception, behavior mastery, with restricted behavioral capacity, and their parents, guardians, or representatives.

+ Notification, handover of the Form, and counseling for individuals tested from 15 to under 18 years of age are conducted before notifying the HIV-positive test results to their parents, guardians, or representatives.

2. What is the deadline for notifying HIV-positive test results in Vietnam?

According to Article 3 of Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT, notification of positive HIV test results must be done no later than 72 working hours from when the person responsible for notifying receives the HIV-positive test result Form of the individual tested, except in the following cases:

- The individual tested for HIV does not come to receive their test result.

- The individual tested for HIV is not able to receive information about their positive HIV status due to health reasons, and the responsible person chooses an appropriate time to notify the individual tested.

3. What are methods of accessing information on HIV status in Vietnam?

The methods of accessing information on HIV status according to Article 11 of Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT include:

- Directly reading from the patient's medical records, the Positive HIV Test Result Form, the information management system (such as health insurance assessment by Vietnam's Social Insurance, health or HIV/AIDS), and other records, documents containing the individual's HIV status.

- Receiving information in writing.

- Accessing information by other methods appropriate to the subject, scope, and content available.

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