Joint Circular No. 13/1999/TTLT-BGD&ĐT issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Health to guide the medical service regime for foreign students in Vietnam.

JOINT CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR NO. 13/1999/TTLT-BGD&ĐT-BTC-BYT OF THE MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, FINANCE, AND HEALTH ON MARCH 16, 1999 GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEDICAL SERVICE REGIME FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS STUDYING IN VIETNAM

Pursuant to Circular No. 2017/VPCP-KGVX dated May 28, 1998 of the Government on the medical service fee regime for foreign students studying 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 Joint Ministries of Education and Training, Finance, and Health guide the medical service regime for foreign students studying in Vietnam as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS:

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

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

- Educational institutions and units serving foreign students are responsible for registering medical examinations and treatments for foreign students at convenient healthcare facilities upon their entry into Vietnam, following the guidance of the Vietnamese Health Insurance Authority.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

A. MEDICAL SERVICE REGIME:

1. Foreign students suffering from common illnesses shall be examined and provided with medication at the healthcare facilities of their educational institutions and units serving foreign students (if such institutions and units have a healthcare department).

2. Foreign students suffering from illnesses (excluding those not covered by health insurance according to Decree No. 58/1998/NĐ-CP dated August 23, 1998 of the Government on the issuance of the Health Insurance Regulation) requiring hospitalization shall be fully covered for all costs, including transportation fees for emergency cases, at hospitals registered by their educational institutions and units serving foreign students.

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

4. The Health Insurance Authority shall cover 100% of medical examination and treatment costs for these individuals, including both inpatient and outpatient care (excluding illnesses not covered by health insurance according to 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 foreign students are responsible for guiding foreign students to seek medical examinations and treatments in accordance with the regulations set forth by the Health Insurance Authority and the healthcare facilities where the foreign students are registered.

In cases where foreign students seek medical examinations and treatments as specified in Article 9 of the Health Insurance Regulation, they must pay the difference between the actual medical fee and the amount covered by health insurance to the healthcare facility.

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

B. ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION:

- Annually, educational institutions and units serving foreign students, while preparing budgets for education and services for foreign students, must also prepare budgets for medical examinations and treatments and health insurance contributions for foreign students, which should be included in the overall budget of the unit and submitted to the competent authority. The competent authorities will consolidate these budgets and submit them to the Ministry of Finance for approval and allocation of funds for the medical service regime for educational institutions and units serving foreign students, which is part of the annual education cost for foreign students.

- Educational institutions and units serving foreign students are responsible for purchasing health insurance for foreign students starting from their entry into Vietnam until the end of their study period, according to the stipulated contribution level, with the cost included in the annual budget for foreign students as defined by the Ministry of Finance.

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

- Educational institutions and units serving foreign students are responsible for contacting and registering to establish medical examination and treatment records for foreign students at healthcare facilities to ensure 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 Health Insurance Authority and healthcare facilities to create favorable conditions for educational institutions and units serving foreign students to contact and register for medical examinations and treatments.

III. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS:

This Circular takes effect from March 1, 1999.

During implementation, if there are any difficulties, educational institutions and units serving foreign students are requested to report to the Joint Ministries for timely review and amendment.