Circular No. 02/2013/TT-BYT stipulates the cooperation among healthcare facilities in managing tuberculosis, applicable to both public and private healthcare facilities. The main contents include principles of cooperation, responsibilities of each party, conditions for participation, rights, record-keeping, and reporting.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on cooperation among healthcare facilities in tuberculosis management 

This Circular prescribes procedures for receiving, providing health care for domestic violence victims and statistical reports on domestic violence victims at medical facilities.

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management;

The Minister of Health issues this Circular to regulate cooperation among healthcare facilities in tuberculosis management.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates principles of cooperation, contents and methods of cooperation, conditions for participation in cooperation, responsibilities and benefits of participating healthcare facilities, record-keeping and reporting in tuberculosis management.

Article 2. Applicability

1. Healthcare facilities within the tuberculosis prevention network pursuant to Decision No. 2357/QĐ-BYT dated July 5, 2011 of the Minister of Health.

2. Private healthcare facilities.

3. State-owned healthcare facilities not within the tuberculosis prevention network.

Article 3. Principles of Cooperation

1. Ensuring all tuberculosis cases are monitored and reported to the Tuberculosis Control Program.

2. Ensuring equality, cooperation, and mutual assistance among participating healthcare facilities.

3. Mobilizing social resources for tuberculosis prevention.

Chapter II

Article 5. Contents of Cooperation

Article 4. Cooperation in transferring suspected tuberculosis patients, collecting and transferring sputum samples for tuberculosis diagnosis

1. Cooperation in transferring suspected tuberculosis patients

a) All agencies, organizations, and individuals may participate in transferring suspected tuberculosis patients and are guided to recognize signs of suspected tuberculosis.

b) Upon identifying a suspected tuberculosis patient, the healthcare facility shall refer the patient to specialized tuberculosis hospitals or healthcare facilities registered for tuberculosis diagnosis.

c) The healthcare facility receiving suspected tuberculosis patients shall create favorable conditions for the patient to be examined, tested, and diagnosed with tuberculosis promptly.

2. Cooperation in collecting and transferring sputum samples for tuberculosis diagnosis

a) Agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in collecting and transporting sputum samples for tuberculosis diagnosis are guided by the Tuberculosis Control Program to recognize signs of suspected tuberculosis, sample collection methods, packaging, transportation, and infection control.

b) Healthcare facilities participating in collecting and transferring sputum samples shall collect, store, and transport sputum samples to healthcare facilities registered for tuberculosis diagnosis.

c) Healthcare facilities registered for tuberculosis diagnosis shall receive, conduct tests, and provide diagnostic results to the transferring facility.

Article 5. Cooperation in diagnosing and detecting tuberculosis

1. Healthcare facilities participating in tuberculosis diagnosis shall be responsible for diagnosing tuberculosis according to the Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Tuberculosis issued pursuant to Decision No. 979/QĐ-BYT dated March 24, 2009 of the Minister of Health and technical procedures approved by competent health authorities.

2. Healthcare facilities only participating in tuberculosis diagnosis shall be responsible for transferring tuberculosis patients to healthcare facilities registered for tuberculosis treatment management.

3. Healthcare facilities receiving tuberculosis patients for treatment shall be responsible for providing feedback on reception and treatment outcomes to the transferring facility.

4. The Tuberculosis Control Programs at various levels shall be responsible for training, supervising, supporting technical assistance, providing consumables, registers, and forms to healthcare facilities registered for tuberculosis diagnosis according to the Tuberculosis Control Program's operational plan.

Article 6. Cooperation in managing tuberculosis treatment

1. Healthcare facilities registered for tuberculosis treatment shall be responsible for receiving, managing, and monitoring treatment of patients according to Decision No. 979/QĐ-BYT dated March 24, 2009 of the Minister of Health regarding Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Tuberculosis.

2. The Tuberculosis Control Programs at various levels shall be responsible for training, supervising, supporting technical assistance, providing medication, consumables, registers, and forms to healthcare facilities registered for tuberculosis treatment as prescribed.

3. Healthcare facilities registered for tuberculosis treatment shall be responsible for record-keeping, reporting, and being subject to technical supervision support from the Tuberculosis Control Program.

Article 7. Coordination in Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis

Healthcare facilities that have the necessary conditions to conduct diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis may register to perform both diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 and participate as a county-level anti-tuberculosis team under Decision No. 2357/QD-BYT dated July 5, 2011 of the Minister of Health on the Planning for Development of the Anti-Tuberculosis Network and Pulmonary Disease Prevention.

Chapter III

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN COORDINATION

Article 8. Conditions for Participation in Coordination for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Healthcare facilities not part of the anti-tuberculosis network participating in tuberculosis diagnosis, in addition to the medical practice license issued by competent state authorities, must also be recognized as having the necessary conditions for tuberculosis diagnosis by the provincial anti-tuberculosis program if they meet the following conditions:

1. Having a laboratory capable of performing direct sputum smear microscopy or other bacterial tuberculosis testing techniques registered with the provincial anti-tuberculosis program.

2. Medical practitioners involved in tuberculosis diagnosis must have the minimum capability to prescribe, read chest X-rays, and be trained by the national anti-tuberculosis program or the provincial anti-tuberculosis program in tuberculosis diagnosis.

3. Commitment to comply with quality control specimen guidelines as directed by the national anti-tuberculosis program.

The provincial anti-tuberculosis program will compile a list of healthcare facilities meeting the conditions for participation in coordination for tuberculosis diagnosis and report it to the Department of Health for review and approval.

Article 9. Conditions for Participation in Coordination for Treatment of Tuberculosis

Healthcare facilities not part of the anti-tuberculosis network participating in tuberculosis treatment, in addition to the medical practice license issued by competent state authorities, must also be recognized as having the necessary conditions for tuberculosis treatment by the provincial anti-tuberculosis program if they meet the following conditions:

1. Medical practitioners involved in tuberculosis treatment must be trained by the national anti-tuberculosis program or the provincial anti-tuberculosis program in tuberculosis management.

2. Meeting the conditions to monitor patients' adherence to tuberculosis treatment according to the Ministry of Health's guidelines. The provincial anti-tuberculosis program will compile a list of healthcare facilities meeting the conditions for participation in coordination for tuberculosis treatment and report it to the Department of Health for review and approval.

Article 10. Conditions for Participation in Coordination for Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis

Healthcare facilities participating in both tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, in addition to the medical practice license issued by competent state authorities, must also be recognized as having the necessary conditions as stipulated in Articles 8 and 9.

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITIES AND BENEFITS

OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES PARTICIPATING IN COORDINATION

Article 11. Healthcare Facilities within the Anti-Tuberculosis Network

1. Responsibilities:

a) Central Anti-Tuberculosis Unit:

- Directing and guiding the provincial anti-tuberculosis programs to implement coordination among healthcare facilities in managing tuberculosis.

- Organizing training for key staff of the provincial anti-tuberculosis programs on how to coordinate among healthcare facilities in managing tuberculosis.

- Developing materials, books, forms; planning purchases of supplies, equipment, medicines, and necessary funds for activities coordinating among healthcare facilities in managing tuberculosis (if applicable) to allocate to provinces/cities.

b) Provincial Anti-Tuberculosis Unit:

- Conducting assessments of healthcare facilities applying to participate in coordinated management of tuberculosis within their province, reporting to the Department of Health for approval.

- Organizing training, guidance, supervision, quality control, professional support, and record-keeping for healthcare facilities participating in coordination to ensure quality in tuberculosis detection, diagnosis, and treatment according to the Ministry of Health's guidelines.

- Providing materials, supplies, equipment, medicines, books, forms, and funding for professional development as prescribed by law to participating healthcare facilities based on the services they register.

- Implementing reporting and feedback systems as directed by the national anti-tuberculosis program.

c) County Anti-Tuberculosis Unit:

- Under the direction of the Department of Health, cooperating with local health management agencies to supervise, support, and report on the coordinated management of tuberculosis in the district/county.

- Participating in providing materials, supplies, medicines, books, forms, and funding for professional development as prescribed by law to participating healthcare facilities based on the services they register.

- Implementing reporting and feedback systems as directed by the national anti-tuberculosis program.

d) Health Station at the Commune Level has the responsibility:

Participating in guiding, inspecting, supervising, and reporting on the coordinated management of tuberculosis in the commune/district according to the national anti-tuberculosis program's guidelines.

2. Rights:

- Civil servants, officials, and employees working in healthcare facilities within the anti-tuberculosis and pulmonary disease networks are entitled to special allowances according to Circular Joint No. 02/2012/TTLT-BYT-BNV-BTC dated January 19, 2012 of the Ministry of Health-Ministry of Home Affairs-Ministry of Finance guiding the implementation of Decree No. 56/2011/NĐ-CP dated July 4, 2011 of the Government on special allowances for professions for civil servants and officials working in public healthcare facilities; entitled to special allowances according to Decision No. 73/2011/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister dated December 28, 2011 on certain special allowances for civil servants, officials, and employees in public healthcare facilities and allowances for epidemic prevention; entitled to remuneration according to Circular Joint No. 147/TTLT-BYT-BTC dated December 12, 2007 of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance guiding the management and use of funds for implementing the National Target Program; entitled to allowances for hazardous and dangerous work according to Circular No. 07/2005/TT-BNV of the Ministry of Home Affairs dated January 5, 2005 guiding allowances for hazardous and dangerous work for cadres, civil servants, and officials and Circular No. 6608/BYT-TCCB of the Ministry of Health dated August 22, 2005 guiding the implementation of allowances for hazardous and dangerous work for cadres and officials in the health sector; entitled to allowances in kind according to Circular Joint No. 13/2012/TTLT-BLDTBXH-BYT of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health dated May 30, 2012 guiding the implementation of allowances in kind for workers working in hazardous and dangerous conditions.

Article 12. Medical facilities participating in tuberculosis management

1. Responsibilities:

a) Medical facilities have the responsibility to participate in detecting and transferring suspected tuberculosis patients to registered diagnostic facilities for tuberculosis.

b) For medical facilities not part of the tuberculosis prevention network that diagnose and/or treat tuberculosis, they must register with the Central Tuberculosis Control Program for hospitals under the Ministry of Health, and provincial hospitals must register with the Provincial Tuberculosis Control Program to report to the Department of Health for approval and ensure service provision according to the registered content.

c) Implement record-keeping and reporting as prescribed in Articles 13 and 14 of this Circular.

d) Be subject to supervision and quality assessment by the Department of Health, the National Tuberculosis Control Program, and the Provincial Tuberculosis Control Program.

2. Rights:

a) Receive training, guidance, and professional support to ensure the quality of tuberculosis detection, diagnosis, and treatment in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

b) Be provided with medications, consumables, ledgers, and forms according to the content of the registered services.

Civil servants, employees, and workers at state-owned medical facilities are entitled to enjoy professional allowances according to Circular Joint No. 02/2012/TTLT-BYT-BNV-BTC dated January 19, 2012, issued by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Finance guiding the implementation of Decree No. 56/2011/NĐ-CP dated July 4, 2011, of the Government on professional allowances for civil servants and employees working at public medical facilities; and special allowances according to Decision No. 73/2011/QĐ-TTg.

d) Private medical facilities and other organizations and individuals participating in the coordinated detection, diagnosis, treatment, and care of tuberculosis patients are entitled to remuneration as stipulated in Circular Joint No. 147/TTLT-BYT-BTC dated December 12, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance guiding the management and use of funds for the National Target Program.

Chapter V RECORDING AND REPORTING

Article 13. Recording and Reporting of Cases

Medical facilities registered to participate in tuberculosis diagnosis are responsible for recording all cases of tuberculosis detected during visits and reporting confirmed cases of tuberculosis according to the prescribed forms (Annexes 1 and 2 attached to this Circular) to the County or Provincial Tuberculosis Control Program quarterly.

Article 14. Recording and Reporting of Treatment Management

Medical facilities participating in tuberculosis treatment shall implement registration, management, and treatment of tuberculosis patients according to the guidelines of the National Tuberculosis Control Program and report according to the prescribed forms (Annexes 3 and 4 attached to this Circular) to the County or Provincial Tuberculosis Control Program quarterly.

Chapter VI IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 15. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from March 15, 2013.

Article 16. Reference Provisions

In case the referenced documents in this Circular are replaced or amended, the amended or replaced documents shall apply.

Article 17. Implementation Organization

1. The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment is responsible for directing and inspecting the implementation of this Circular by affiliated hospitals and localities.

2. Relevant Departments and Bureaus, depending on their assigned functions and tasks, participate in directing and implementing coordinated activities between medical facilities in tuberculosis management.

3. The Central Lung Hospital and the Head of the National Tuberculosis Control Program are responsible for implementing coordinated activities between medical facilities in tuberculosis management, inspecting and evaluating activities at the local level, and proposing related policies to the Ministry of Health concerning coordinated activities between medical facilities in tuberculosis management.

The Central 71 Hospital, the Central 74 Hospital, and the Ho Chi Minh City Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital are responsible for guiding and supervising coordinated activities between medical facilities in tuberculosis management in provinces and cities as assigned by the Minister of Health.

4. The Department of Health of provinces and centrally-administered cities is responsible for:

a) Directing the Provincial Tuberculosis Control Unit and state-owned and private medical facilities within its jurisdiction to implement coordinated activities in tuberculosis management.

b) Promoting and directing the inspection and supervision of coordinated activities in tuberculosis management and reporting every six months to the Ministry of Health and the National Tuberculosis Control Program.

c) Approving the technical catalog and scope of practice of facilities participating in coordinated activities in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment within its jurisdiction.

5. District Health Services:

a) Report to the People's Committee of the district/city/district directly under the province about coordinated activities in tuberculosis management within its jurisdiction.

b) Conduct regular inspections and supervision of medical facilities participating in coordinated activities in tuberculosis management and report to the Department of Health.

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units should reflect them to the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, Ministry of Health for guidance, clarification, or resolution.