Circular No. 07/2023/TT-BYT guides the procedures and methods for epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines on the procedures and methods for epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS and

surveillance of sexually transmitted infections

||| Based on the Law on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS Infection dated June 29, 2006; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS Infection dated November 16, 2020;i The Minister of Health issues this Circular to guide the procedures and methods for epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS and surveillance of sexually transmitted infections.

Pursuant to Decree No. 95/2022/NĐ-CP dated November 15, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Pursuant to the proposal of the Director of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department;

This Circular guides the procedures and methods for epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS and surveillance of sexually transmitted infections.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Surveillance for detecting HIV infection

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. is the process of collecting information on epidemiological indicators of HIV/AIDS among different risk groups to identify cases of HIV infection. Surveillance of HIV/AIDS cases

2. is the process of continuously collecting and monitoring information on epidemiological indicators of HIV-infected individuals from the time they receive a positive HIV test result, throughout their HIV/AIDS treatment until death, to understand trends and outcomes over time, thereby providing information for planning, prevention, control, and evaluating the effectiveness of measures to prevent and control HIV/AIDS. Targeted HIV surveillance with behavioral interviews

3. involves collecting information on HIV transmission risk behaviors through interview questions for selected groups in targeted HIV surveillance. Sexually transmitted infections

4. are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, protozoa, or other agents transmitted through sexual contact. Surveillance for detecting sexually transmitted infections

5. involves collecting information on epidemiological indicators of different risk groups diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections. Surveillance of sexually transmitted infections by etiology

6. involves periodically and systematically collecting information related to epidemiological indicators of different risk groups based on testing for agents causing sexually transmitted infections. Surveillance of sexually transmitted infections by syndrome

7. involves periodically and systematically collecting clinical symptoms and signs to diagnose syndromes of sexually transmitted infections. Targeted syphilis surveillance

8. involves collecting epidemiological information and syphilis testing in selected groups in targeted HIV surveillance. METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE OF HIV/AIDS

Chapter II

SURVEILLANCE FOR DETECTING HIV INFECTION

Section 1

Article 3. Methods for surveillance for detecting HIV infection

Clause 1. Methods for surveillance for detecting HIV infection include:

Point a) Pre- and post-HIV counseling;

Point b) HIV testing;

Point c) Collection, compilation, and reporting of HIV/AIDS epidemiological indicators.

Clause 2. Priority groups for surveillance for detecting HIV infection include:

Point a) Drug users;

Point b) Sex workers;

Point c) Men who have sex with men;

Point d) Transgender people;

Point e) Spouses and other family members living together with an HIV-infected person; spouses of persons specified in points a, b, c, and point d of this clause;

Point f) Persons with HIV-infected partners;

Point g) Persons with sexually transmitted infections;

Point h) Mobile populations;

Point i) Tuberculosis patients;

Point j) Persons with clinical symptoms suggestive of HIV/AIDS;

Point k) Prisoners, detainees, compulsory educational facility inmates, students at rehabilitation schools, drug rehabilitation facility trainees;

Point l) Other groups.

Other subjects.

Article 4. Procedures for counseling and testing to detect HIV infection

1. Pre- and post-HIV testing counseling shall be conducted as follows:

a) Pre- and post-HIV testing counseling at healthcare facilities and compulsory educational institutions, educational reform centers, drug rehabilitation centers, social welfare institutions, prisons, detention centers, holding houses, and other detention facilities shall be carried out in accordance with Circular No. 01/2015/TT-BYT dated February 27, 2015, issued by the Minister of Health on guidelines for HIV/AIDS prevention and control counseling at healthcare facilities;

b) Pre- and post-HIV testing counseling in the community shall be conducted in accordance with Decision No. 2673/QĐ-BYT dated April 27, 2018, issued by the Minister of Health on guidelines for HIV counseling and testing in the community.

2. HIV testing shall be conducted in accordance with the technical guidance provided in Decision No. 2674/QĐ-BYT dated April 27, 2018, issued by the Minister of Health on national guidelines for HIV testing.

Article 5. Procedures for collecting, compiling, and reporting HIV/AIDS epidemiological indicators

1. Collection, compilation, and reporting of HIV/AIDS epidemiological indicators of tested individuals shall be conducted as follows:

a) Screening testing facilities shall collect and transfer information of individuals with reactive screening HIV test results through the HIV/AIDS Information Management System (hereinafter referred to as the HIV-INFO system) or in writing according to the form prescribed in Appendix 1 attached to this Circular to confirmatory HIV testing facilities;

b) Confirmatory HIV testing facilities shall receive information of individuals with reactive screening HIV test results from screening HIV testing facilities via the HIV-INFO system or in writing. In cases where individuals directly come to confirmatory HIV testing facilities for testing, such facilities shall collect information in accordance with point a, Clause 1 of this Article.

2. Updating information, transferring, and delivering confirmatory HIV positive test results shall be conducted as follows:

a) After obtaining confirmatory HIV test results, confirmatory HIV testing facilities shall update confirmatory HIV test results on the HIV-INFO system and transfer confirmatory HIV test results in paper or electronic form to the sample collection screening testing facility or deliver confirmatory HIV positive test results to the individual who was tested for HIV;

b) Screening testing facilities shall receive confirmatory HIV test results from confirmatory HIV testing facilities and update information for cases with confirmatory HIV positive test results (if any) as prescribed in Appendix 1 attached to this Circular and send updated information to confirmatory HIV testing facilities.

3. Confirmatory HIV testing facilities shall report surveillance of HIV detection as prescribed in Appendix 1 attached to this Circular and submit reports to the HIV/AIDS epidemic surveillance authority as stipulated in Article 6 of this Circular.

4. Screening testing facilities and confirmatory HIV testing facilities shall transfer information of HIV-infected individuals to HIV/AIDS treatment facilities where the infected individuals have registered for treatment.

Article 6. Procedures for notifying positive HIV test results to agencies and units assigned the task of HIV/AIDS epidemic surveillance

1. After obtaining confirmatory HIV positive test results, confirmatory HIV testing facilities shall notify the district, provincial, Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute, West Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and Nha Trang Pasteur Institute (hereinafter referred to as Institutes) and the National Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (hereinafter referred to as the HIV/AIDS epidemic surveillance authority) through the HIV-INFO system.

Confirmatory HIV testing facilities under Ministries and sectors shall notify positive HIV test results to the provincial HIV/AIDS epidemic surveillance authority where the healthcare facility is located within the province.

2. Upon receiving notifications of positive HIV test results from confirmatory HIV testing facilities, the HIV/AIDS epidemic surveillance authorities shall manage information of individuals with confirmatory HIV positive test results in accordance with Article 8 of this Circular.

Section 2

SURVEILLANCE OF HIV/AIDS CASES

Article 7. Methods for Monitoring HIV/AIDS Cases

1. The methods for monitoring HIV/AIDS cases include:

a) Monitoring HIV-infected individuals;

b) Monitoring the treatment status of HIV-infected individuals;

c) Monitoring deaths among HIV-infected individuals.

2. The subjects of monitoring HIV/AIDS cases are HIV-infected individuals.

Article 8. Information Management Process for Individuals with Confirmed Positive HIV Test Results

1. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals, the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department assigns staff responsible for HIV surveillance to perform:

a) Updating information on HIV-infected individuals according to the provisions set out in Appendix 1 issued together with this Circular onto the HIV-INFO system;

b) Reviewing, comparing, and verifying information on HIV-infected individuals when requested on the HIV-INFO system;

c) Cooperating with Institutes to implement HIV infection surveillance and assess the risk of HIV transmission when there is an increase in the number of HIV-infected individuals, following professional guidelines.

2. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals, the Institute assigns staff responsible for HIV surveillance to perform:

a) Updating, reviewing, comparing, and verifying information on HIV-infected individuals according to points a and b of Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Cooperating with the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department and provincial-level disease surveillance agencies to organize HIV infection surveillance and assess the risk of HIV transmission when there is an increase in the number of HIV-infected individuals, following professional guidelines.

3. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals, the provincial-level disease surveillance agency assigns staff responsible for HIV surveillance to perform:

a) Updating, reviewing, comparing, and verifying information on HIV-infected individuals according to points a and b of Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Notifying information about HIV-infected individuals to district-level disease surveillance agencies where the HIV-infected individuals reside or have their permanent residence through the HIV-INFO system;

c) Organizing HIV infection surveillance in the area and assessing the risk of HIV transmission when there is an increase in the number of HIV-infected individuals, following professional guidelines.

4. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals, the district-level disease surveillance agency assigns staff responsible for HIV surveillance to perform:

a) Updating information on HIV-infected individuals according to point a of Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Taking the lead and cooperating with health stations to organize reviews, comparisons, verifications, and updates of information on HIV-infected individuals received from provincial-level disease surveillance agencies onto the HIV-INFO system;

c) Notifying information about HIV-infected individuals to health stations where the HIV-infected individuals reside or have their permanent residence through the HIV-INFO system;

d) Organizing HIV infection surveillance in the district and assessing the risk of HIV transmission when there is an increase in the number of HIV-infected individuals, following professional guidelines.

5. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals, the health station assigns staff responsible for HIV surveillance to perform:

a) Reviewing and adjusting information on HIV-infected individuals on the HIV-INFO system;

b) Cooperating with district-level disease surveillance agencies to assess the risk of HIV transmission when there is an increase in the number of HIV-infected individuals, following professional guidelines.

Article 9. Information Management Process for HIV-Infected Individuals Undergoing HIV/AIDS Treatment

1. After HIV-infected individuals enter a treatment facility or are undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment, the HIV/AIDS treatment facility reports information on HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals as specified in Appendix 2 issued together with this Circular to the disease surveillance agency.

HIV/AIDS treatment facilities under Ministries and sectors report information on HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment to the provincial-level disease surveillance agency where the HIV/AIDS treatment facility is located.

2. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment, the provincial-level disease surveillance agency assigns staff responsible for disease surveillance to perform:

a) Updating information on HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals as specified in Appendix 2 issued together with this Circular onto the HIV-INFO system;

b) Reviewing and comparing initial treatment data of HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment with existing treatment data on the HIV-INFO system;

c) Notifying the list of HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment to district-level disease surveillance agencies where the HIV-infected individuals reside or have their permanent residence through the HIV-INFO system;

d) Reporting the situation of HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals to the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department and regional Institutes.

3. After receiving information on HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals, the district-level disease surveillance agency assigns staff responsible for disease surveillance to perform:

a) Updating information on HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals as specified in point a of Clause 2 of this Article and reporting the situation of HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals to the provincial-level disease surveillance agency;

b) Notifying the list of HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment to health stations;

c) Reviewing and comparing initial treatment data of HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment with existing treatment data on the HIV-INFO system.

4. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment, the health station assigns staff responsible for disease surveillance to update information onto the HIV-INFO system.

5. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment, the regional Institute assigns staff responsible for disease surveillance to perform:

a) Updating information on HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals as specified in point a of Clause 2 of this Article and reporting the situation of HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals to the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department;

b) Reviewing information on HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment within the jurisdiction on the HIV-INFO system.

6. After receiving information about HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment, the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department assigns staff responsible for disease surveillance to perform:

a) Updating information on HIV/AIDS treatment of HIV-infected individuals as specified in point a of Clause 2 of this Article;

b) Reviewing and providing feedback on information on HIV-infected individuals undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment nationwide on the HIV-INFO system to disease surveillance agencies (if applicable).

Article 10. Procedure for managing information on deceased HIV-infected individuals

1. After receiving information about the death of an HIV-infected individual in the locality, the Commune Health Station shall cooperate with judicial officials from the commune where the HIV-infected individual lived or was registered to collect the information specified in Appendix 3 issued together with this Circular and upload it onto the HIV-INFO system or send it in writing to the HIV/AIDS surveillance agency at the district level.

2. After receiving information about the death of an HIV-infected individual, the HIV/AIDS surveillance agency at the district level shall update the information on the deceased HIV-infected individual as specified in Appendix 3 issued together with this Circular onto the HIV-INFO system.

3. After receiving information about the death of an HIV-infected individual, the HIV/AIDS surveillance agencies at various levels shall assign focal points responsible for managing and using the information for HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance according to their functions and responsibilities.

Article 11. Reporting consolidated data on HIV/AIDS case surveillance

1. Frequency of reporting: Quarterly periodic reports and annual periodic reports.

2. Time for finalizing report data:

a) Quarterly periodic reports: The time for finalizing surveillance data on HIV/AIDS cases is calculated from the first day of the quarter in which the report is made to the last day of the reporting quarter;

b) Annual periodic reports: The time for finalizing surveillance data on HIV/AIDS cases is calculated from the first day of the year in which the report is made to the last day of the reporting year.

3. Method of sending and receiving reports: Reports shall be sent directly in paper form or via the email system or online through the HIV-INFO system. Reports must be signed, stamped, and stored in accordance with the laws on archiving.

4. Content of the consolidated report on HIV/AIDS case surveillance includes the number of newly detected HIV-infected individuals and the number of deceased HIV-infected individuals according to the model specified in Appendix 4 issued together with this Circular.

5. Reporting subjects and procedures:

a) The Commune Health Station shall submit the report content as stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article to the HIV/AIDS surveillance agency at the district level no later than the fifth day of the month following the reporting period;

b) The HIV/AIDS surveillance agency at the district level shall compile the report from the Commune Health Station as stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article and submit it to the HIV/AIDS surveillance agency at the provincial level no later than the tenth day of the month following the reporting period;

c) The HIV/AIDS surveillance agency at the provincial level shall compile the report from the HIV/AIDS surveillance agency at the district level as stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article and submit it to the AIDS Prevention and Control Department and Institutes no later than the fifteenth day of the month following the reporting period;

d) The Institutes shall compile the report from the HIV/AIDS surveillance agency at the provincial level as stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article and submit it to the AIDS Prevention and Control Department no later than the twentieth day of the month following the reporting period.

Section 3

KEY SURVEILLANCE

Article 12. Key Surveillance Methods

1. Key surveillance methods include:

a) Key surveillance of HIV/AIDS;

b) Key surveillance of syphilis;

c) Key surveillance of HIV integrated with behavioral interviews.

2. Key surveillance targets include:

a) Male drug users;

b) Female sex workers;

c) Men who have sex with men;

d) Other groups: based on the risk of HIV transmission in each province, select target groups that play a role in increasing HIV transmission locally, with an estimated HIV prevalence rate of over 1% in these groups and ensure continuous surveillance according to the frequency specified in Clause 1 of Article 14 of this Circular.

Article 13. Procedures for organizing and implementing key surveillance

1. The provincial HIV/AIDS control agency shall take the lead and coordinate with the county-level HIV/AIDS control agencies, health stations, and organizations and individuals assigned to conduct key surveillance to perform the following tasks:

a) Conduct surveys and establish sampling frames for key surveillance;

b) Approach and invite key surveillance subjects;

c) Collect samples, transport samples, and conduct tests;

d) Interview key surveillance participants according to survey forms;

đ) Clean, update, compile, and analyze data;

e) Summarize and report the results of key surveillance.

2. The National AIDS Control Center shall take the lead and coordinate with central dermatology institutes and hospitals to be responsible for developing and updating guidelines for procedures to organize and implement key surveillance.

Article 14. Frequency and Time of Key Surveillance Implementation

1. Key surveillance shall be conducted simultaneously and alternately among groups of subjects every two years without overlapping within the same year.

2. Timeframe: From June 1st to September 30th of the year the surveillance is carried out.

Article 15. Criteria for Selecting Sites for Key Surveillance

1. Sites for key surveillance shall be selected as follows:

a) Counties shall be chosen to implement key surveillance when they have the highest number of specified subjects under Clause 2, Article 12 of this Circular based on managed data or estimated key surveillance subjects;

b) In a province, up to five counties may be selected to implement key surveillance.

2. The list of provinces and key surveillance subjects shall be implemented according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health (National AIDS Control Center).

Article 16. Criteria for Selecting Subjects, Sample Size, and Sampling Methods for Key Surveillance

1. Criteria for selecting key surveillance subjects include persons aged 16 years or older with full civil capacity and meeting the following standards:

a) Male drug injectors who have injected drugs at least once in the month prior to sample collection;

b) Female sex workers engaging in vaginal or anal intercourse at least once in the month prior to sample collection;

c) Males having anal intercourse with other males in the 12 months prior to sample collection;

d) Other subjects engaging in behaviors that increase the risk of HIV transmission in the province and currently residing there.

2. Sample size for key surveillance:

a) Male drug injectors: 150-300 samples;

b) Female sex workers: 150-300 samples;

c) Males having anal intercourse with other males: 150-300 samples;

d) Other subjects engaging in behaviors that increase the risk of HIV transmission: 300 samples.

3. Sampling methods shall be carried out according to the technical guidance of the Ministry of Health (National AIDS Control Center).

Article 17. Summary Report of Data from Key Surveillance

1. Reporting frequency: As stipulated in Clause 1, Article 14 of this Circular.

2. Deadline for finalizing data for reporting: As stipulated in Clause 2, Article 14 of this Circular.

3. Method of submitting and receiving reports: As stipulated in Clause 3, Article 11 of this Circular.

4. Content of the summary report of key surveillance data includes the area and subjects involved, sample size, HIV and syphilis test results, assessment of current HIV and syphilis infection rates, analysis of index groups, evaluation of implementation, recommendations according to the form prescribed in Appendix 8 attached to this Circular.

5. Reporting subjects and procedures:

a) Provincial HIV/AIDS control agencies shall submit the key surveillance report content as prescribed in Appendices 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Circular to the National AIDS Control Center, Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and regional institutes responsible for it before October 31st of the year the key surveillance is carried out;

b) The Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology shall compile the national key surveillance report content as prescribed in Appendices 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Circular to the National AIDS Control Center before November 15th of the year the key surveillance is carried out.

Chapter III

SURVEILLANCE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Article 18. Methods for monitoring and detecting sexually transmitted diseases

1. The methods for monitoring and detecting sexually transmitted diseases include:

a) Examination, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases based on etiology and syndrome;

b) Collection, compilation, and reporting of epidemiological indicators of sexually transmitted diseases.

2. The subjects monitored for detecting sexually transmitted diseases are patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases.

Article 19. Procedure for collecting information for monitoring and detecting sexually transmitted diseases

1. Medical facilities shall conduct examinations, diagnoses, treatments of sexually transmitted diseases in accordance with laws on medical examination and treatment, and collect information on the epidemiology of individuals with sexually transmitted diseases as stipulated in Article 20 of this Circular.

2. After obtaining examination and diagnostic results, the medical facility assigns staff to collect data on sexually transmitted diseases as specified in Appendices 9, 10, and 11 attached to this Circular and implement reporting procedures as stipulated in Articles 21 and 22 of this Circular.

Article 20. Content of information collection on the epidemiology of individuals with sexually transmitted diseases

1. Information on age, gender, occupation.

2. Diagnostic information on sexually transmitted diseases based on etiology and syndrome as specified in Appendices 9 and 10 attached to this Circular.

3. HIV infection status of cases with sexually transmitted diseases.

Article 21. Frequency, time of data closure, and reporting method

1. Reporting frequency: Semi-annually.

2. Time for finalizing report data:

a) Data closure for the first six months of the year is calculated from January 1 to the last day of June of the reporting period;

b) Data closure for the second six months of the year is calculated from July 1 to the last day of the reporting year.

3. Method of submitting and receiving reports: As stipulated in Clause 3, Article 11 of this Circular.

Article 22. Reporting procedure for monitoring and detecting sexually transmitted diseases

1. Report of the Commune Health Station:

a) Content of report: Number of patients examined and treated for sexually transmitted diseases in the previous six months according to the forms specified in Appendices 9, 10, and 11 attached to this Circular;

b) Time to submit report: Reports for the first six months of the year are submitted from July 1 to July 5 of the reporting year; Reports for the second six months of the year are submitted from January 1 to January 5 of the following year of the reporting period;

c) Receiving unit for reports: County-level HIV/AIDS surveillance agency.

2. Report at the county level:

a) Content of report as stipulated in point a, Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Unit submitting report: Commune Health Stations, county-level medical facilities providing examination and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, and private medical facilities within the county;

c) Time to submit report: Reports for the first six months of the year are submitted from July 1 to July 5 of the reporting year; Reports for the second six months of the year are submitted from January 1 to January 5 of the following year of the reporting period;

d) Receiving and compiling unit for reports: County-level dermatology lead unit.

3. Report at the provincial level:

a) Content of report as stipulated in point a, Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Unit submitting report: County-level HIV/AIDS surveillance agencies, provincial-level medical facilities providing examination and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, health units under ministries and sectors located within the province, and other medical facilities providing examination and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases;

c) Time to submit report: Reports for the first six months of the year are submitted from July 6 to July 10 of the reporting year; Reports for the second six months of the year are submitted from January 6 to January 10 of the following year of the reporting period;

d) Receiving and compiling unit for reports: Provincial-level dermatology lead unit.

4. Report at the central level:

a) Content of report as stipulated in point a, Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Unit submitting report: Provincial-level dermatology lead unit;

c) Time to submit report: Reports for the first six months of the year are submitted from July 11 to July 15 of the reporting year; Reports for the second six months of the year are submitted from January 11 to January 15 of the following year of the reporting period;

d) Receiving and compiling unit for reports: Central Dermatology Hospital compiles national data and sends it to the AIDS Prevention and Control Department no later than July 20 of the reporting year and January 20 of the following year of the reporting period.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 23. Implementation Organization

1. The AIDS Prevention and Control Department, Ministry of Health shall be responsible for:

a) Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant agencies and organizations to guide, inspect, evaluate, and summarize the implementation of the provisions of this Circular nationwide;

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with specialized agencies to develop and update technical guidance materials; select target groups and centrally-administered cities and provinces for focused supervision; organize training and technical support for units and localities; implement research and evaluation of HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance methods and sexually transmitted disease surveillance;

c) Taking the lead in organizing the implementation of the HIV/AIDS information management system.

2. Specialized Institutes under the Ministry of Health and the Central Dermatology Hospital shall be responsible for:

a) Implementing this Circular within their areas of professional activity;

b) Providing professional technical guidance and support within their scope of responsibility and cooperating in implementing research and evaluation of HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance methods and sexually transmitted disease surveillance.

3. Provincial Health Departments shall guide, organize the implementation, inspect, evaluate, and summarize the implementation of the provisions of this Circular within their jurisdiction.

Article 24. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from June 1, 2023.

2. Circular No. 09/2012/TT-BYT dated May 24, 2012, issued by the Minister of Health on issuing guidelines for HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance and sexually transmitted disease surveillance shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 25. Responsibilities for Implementation

The Director of the AIDS Prevention and Control Department, the Head of the Ministry's Office, the Inspector General of the Ministry, Heads of Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry of Health, Directors of Provincial Health Departments, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for enforcing this Circular.

During implementation, in case of difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall report to the Ministry of Health (HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department) for consideration and resolution./.