The Ministry of Health has issued a circular which only health workers with practitioner’s certificates are eligible to take part in charitable medical examination and treatment in Vietnam. Circular 30/2014/TT-BYT, to be effective on Oct 15, provides new regulations to strengthen the management of humanitarian medical examination and treatment activities. The new regulations came following the deaths of three babies in free cleft lip and cleft palate surgery offered by the Center for Researching and Aiding Smile Operation (OSCA), a Hanoi-based NGO, on Aug 23-25 at Khanh Hoa province’s general hospital. Under the new rule, all people who directly take part in charitable medical examination and treatment – including doctors, nurses and even persons who deliver medicines to patients – must have practitioner’s certificates granted by the health ministry or health departments in provinces and cities. These people are also required to get written approval of the People’s Committees of the locality where they or their organizations want to offer charitable medical services to patients. Places where humanitarian medical examination and treatment take place must be equipped with necessary medical equipment and facilities. Within 10 business days after ending a charitable medical service program, individuals or organizations that have conducted the program must report the outcome of the program to the health ministry or local health departments, or the agencies that granted licenses for such individuals or organizations to conduct their programs. (Tuoi Tre – Youth Sept 4)
