Joint Circular No. 13/1999/TTLT-BGD&ĐT-BTC-BYT guiding the implementation of medical service provisions for foreign students studying in Vietnam

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines on medical service provisions for foreign students studying in Vietnam

Pursuant to Circular No. 2017/VPCP-KGVX dated May 28, 1998 of the Government on medical expenses for foreign exchange students in Vietnam;

Pursuant to agreements on cooperation in the field of education and training signed with countries that have been assigned by the Government to the Ministry of Education and Training or agreed upon by the Government for the Ministry of Education and Training to engage in educational cooperation with these countries;
The Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Health issue guidelines on medical service provisions for foreign students studying in Vietnam as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS:

- Foreign students, trainees, research fellows, and advanced training participants studying at Vietnamese institutions (referred to as exchange students) under agreements signed by the Ministry of Education and Training with various countries. Exchange students from countries not covered by such agreements but approved by the Vietnamese Government before entering Vietnam for study shall enjoy free medical services during their study period in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

- Medical expenses for exchange students shall be funded by the state budget allocated to educational institutions and units serving exchange students to purchase health insurance for them, without direct payment by the exchange students.

- Educational institutions and units serving foreign exchange students are responsible for registering exchange students for medical examinations and treatments at convenient healthcare facilities according to the guidance of the Vietnamese Health Insurance Authority when they enter Vietnam for study.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

A. MEDICAL SERVICE REGIME:

1. Exchange students suffering from common illnesses may be examined and provided with medication at healthcare facilities within educational institutions and units serving exchange students (if such institutions and units have medical departments).

2. Exchange students suffering from illnesses (excluding those not covered by health insurance as stipulated in Decree No. 58/1998/NĐ-CP dated August 23, 1998 of the Government on the Issuance of the Health Insurance Regulation) requiring hospitalization must be registered for examination and treatment at hospitals designated by educational institutions and units serving exchange students, with all costs, including transportation fees for emergency cases, being fully covered.

3. Educational institutions and units serving exchange students are allowed to allocate 3% of the monthly scholarship provided from the state budget to purchase health insurance for exchange students.

4. The Health Insurance Authority will cover 100% of medical examination and treatment costs for these individuals, including both inpatient and outpatient care (excluding illnesses not covered by health insurance as stipulated in Decree No. 58/1998/NĐ-CP dated August 23, 1998 of the Government on the Issuance of the Health Insurance Regulation).

5. Educational institutions and units serving exchange students are responsible for guiding exchange students to seek medical examinations and treatments in accordance with the regulations set forth by the Health Insurance Authority and the healthcare facilities where exchange students are registered.

In cases where exchange students request special medical examinations as stipulated in Article 9 of the Health Insurance Regulation, exchange students must pay the difference between the actual medical expenses and the amount reimbursed by health insurance to the healthcare facility.

6. For outpatient treatment, exchange students will be reimbursed for medications prescribed by doctors if the hospital cannot provide them.

B. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION:

- Annually, educational institutions and units serving exchange students, while preparing budgets for education and services for exchange students, must also prepare budgets for medical examinations and treatments and health insurance contributions for exchange students, which should be included in the overall unit budget submitted to the supervising authority. Supervising authorities must consolidate these budgets and submit them to the Ministry of Finance for review and allocation of funds for medical service provisions for educational institutions and units serving exchange students, with this funding included in the annual education cost budget for exchange students.

- Educational institutions and units serving exchange students are responsible for purchasing health insurance for exchange students starting from the time they enter Vietnam for study until the end of their study period in Vietnam, in accordance with the specified contribution level, with the cost included in the annual expenditure standard for exchange students as stipulated by the Ministry of Finance.

- When implementing, educational institutions and units serving exchange students must ensure actual income and expenditures, supported by valid documentation, before finalizing accounts.

- Educational institutions and units serving exchange students are responsible for contacting and registering to establish medical examination and treatment records for exchange students at healthcare facilities ensuring convenient medical services when students fall ill.

- The management process, budget preparation, distribution, and settlement of these funds shall be carried out in accordance with current financial regulations.

- The Ministry of Health is responsible for guiding the Vietnamese Health Insurance Authority and other relevant institutions to create favorable conditions for educational institutions and units serving foreign exchange students to contact and register for medical examinations and treatments.

III. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS:

This Circular takes effect from March 1, 1999.

During implementation, if any issues arise, educational institutions and units serving exchange students are requested to report them to the relevant ministries for timely review and amendment.