Circular No. 17/2022/TT-BYT stipulates the tasks of mental health examination and treatment at medical facilities.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the tasks of mental health examination and treatment

of medical examination and treatment facilities

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Pursuant to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment dated November 23, 2009;

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;

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

The Minister of Health issues this Circular stipulating the tasks of mental health examination and treatment of medical examination and treatment facilities, including mental health hospitals, mental health departments in hospitals, mental health clinics, and other medical examination and treatment facilities participating in mental health examination and treatment. bệnh, chữa bệnh tâm thần củacác cơ sở khám bệnh, chữa bệnh.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the tasks of mental health examination and treatment of medical examination and treatment facilities, including mental health hospitals, mental health departments in hospitals, mental health clinics, and other medical examination and treatment facilities participating in mental health examination and treatment.

Article 2. Tasks of Mental Health Hospitals

1. Conduct mental health examination and treatment in outpatient, day hospital, and inpatient forms, including:

a) Emergency care and resuscitation;

b) Mental health examination and treatment;

c) Implement psychological therapy, activity therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, social rehabilitation for mental health, and other therapies within the scope of operation approved by the competent authority and according to professional regulations;

d) Research and implement new techniques and methods for mental health examination and treatment as prescribed;

đ) Provide advice on improving mental health, preventing mental disorders, vocational guidance, and social support for patients and their families;

e) Conduct mental health examination and treatment during natural disasters, catastrophes, and epidemics;

g) Organize or participate in mental health status examinations and certifications for specified groups as prescribed;

h) Support or participate in mental health examination and treatment at lower levels and in the community;

i) Participate in other medical examination and treatment activities when mobilized or directed.

2. Training and Capacity Building for Healthcare Personnel:

a) Implement continuous training and capacity building in mental health knowledge;

b) Serve as a practical training base for mental health specialty for educational institutions as prescribed;

c) Accept internships and foreign experts for study and research as prescribed.

3. Scientific Research:

a) Carry out and participate in scientific research projects as prescribed;

b) Advise higher management agencies on scientific research work in mental health examination and treatment;

c) Organize and participate in scientific conferences and seminars;

d) Organize and participate in scientific research cooperation programs with domestic and international units as prescribed.

4. Directing Activities for Mental Health Care in Assigned Facilities:

a) Transfer techniques for mental health care;

b) Provide technical support for mental health care;

c) Inspect and supervise the implementation of specialized activities in mental health care.

5. Prevention, Communication, and Health Education on Mental Health:

a) Organize propaganda on the Party's policies, State's policies, and legal documents regarding mental health protection and care for the public;

b) Implement communication and health education activities on mental health;

c) Lead and coordinate with relevant agencies, units, and organizations to implement community mental disorder prevention and control activities and improve mental health, with a focus on school mental health care.

6. Pharmaceutical Work: Implement hospital pharmaceutical regulations and manage psychotropic drugs as prescribed.

7. Perform other tasks as prescribed by current laws or when meeting conditions and being approved by the competent authority or when mobilized or directed.

Article 3. Tasks of the Mental Health Department

1. Perform the tasks specified at points a, b, c, d, đ, e, h, and i of Clause 1, Article 2 issued together with this Circular.

2. Participate in examining and assessing the mental health status of individuals as prescribed.

3. Perform other tasks as prescribed by current laws when meeting the required conditions and being approved by the competent authority, or when mobilized.

Article 4. Tasks of Mental Health Clinics and Commune Health Stations, Ward Health Stations, Town Health Stations, and Equivalent Facilities

1. Perform the tasks specified at points a, b, c, d, đ, e, and i of Clause 1, Article 2 issued together with this Circular in an outpatient treatment format.

2. Commune Health Stations, Ward Health Stations, Town Health Stations, and Equivalent Facilities also perform the task of implementing community mental health care activities as prescribed.

3. Mental Health Clinics perform other tasks as prescribed by current laws when meeting the required conditions and being approved by the competent authority, or when mobilized.

Article 5. Tasks of Other Medical Examination and Treatment Institutions Participating in Mental Health Medical Examination and Treatment

Carry out mental health medical examination and treatment tasks within the scope of specialized activities approved by the competent authority.

Article 6. Implementation Organization

1. The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment shall direct, guide, disseminate, inspect, examine, evaluate, summarize, and conclude the implementation of this Circular.

2. Provincial Departments of Health under centrally governed cities:

a) Direct, guide, disseminate, inspect, and examine the implementation of this Circular for healthcare facilities under their management authority;

b) Review to advise the competent authority on organizing the implementation of measures to consolidate the system of medical examination and treatment facilities for mental health care as prescribed by this Circular to meet the needs of mental health care for the people and the practical conditions at the local level;

c) Assign medical examination and treatment facilities to carry out the tasks specified in Clause 4, Article 2 of this Circular;

d) Report the results of implementing this Circular to the Ministry of Health (Department of Medical Examination and Treatment).

3. Health Services of Ministries and Sectors:

a) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to organize the implementation, guide, inspect, and examine the implementation of this Circular within the scope of their management;

b) Assign medical examination and treatment facilities to carry out the tasks specified in Clause 4, Article 2 of this Circular.

4. Medical examination and treatment facilities have the responsibility to report the results of implementing this Circular to the directly managing agency.

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2023.

2. The Mental Health Department Work Regulations stipulated in Clause 7, Part V of the Hospital Regulations issued pursuant to Decision No. 1895/1997/QĐ-BYT dated September 19, 1997, of the Minister of Health on the issuance of the Hospital Regulations shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 8. Implementation Timeline

Medical examination and treatment facilities must organize the full implementation of the tasks prescribed in this Circular no later than December 31, 2028.

Article 9. Responsibility for implementation

The Director of the Ministry's Office, the Director of the Ministry's Inspectorate, the Heads of Departments, Directors of General Departments under the Ministry of Health, the Directors of Provincial Departments of Health under centrally governed cities, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular. In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, it is recommended that agencies, organizations, and individuals promptly reflect these issues to the Ministry of Health (Department of Medical Examination and Treatment) for consideration and resolution.

In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, it is recommended that agencies, organizations, and individuals promptly reflect these issues to the Ministry of Health (Department of Medical Examination and Treatment) for consideration and resolution./.