Circular No. 23/2017/TT-BYT guides the establishment of health monitoring records, regular health check-ups for children according to age groups; provides advice on health care and nutrition for pregnant women and children.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for establishing health records and conducting regular health check-ups for children according to age; providing advice on healthcare and nutrition for pregnant women and children

age for children; counseling on health care and nutrition

for pregnant women and children

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 84 of the Children Law 2016;

PURSUANTPursuant to Decree No. 63/2012/NĐ-CP dated August 31, 2012 of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health, this Circular guides the establishment of health records and conducting regular health check-ups for children according to age; providing advice on healthcare and nutrition for pregnant women and children. transmission within the scope of payment of the health insurance fund.

Appendix 02 attached to this Circular.

issues this Circular detailing the activities and work relationships of Medical Expert Boards at all levels.The Minister of Health issues a Circular guiding the establishment of health monitoring records and regular health check-ups according to age for children adviceProviding advice on healthcare and nutrition for pregnant women and children.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

This Circular guides the establishment of health records and conducting regular health check-ups for children according to age; providing advice on healthcare and nutrition for pregnant women and children.

2. This Circular applies to:

a) Children from birth to under 16 years old;

b) Public and private healthcare facilities providing medical examination and treatment services; advice on healthcare and nutrition for pregnant women and children;

c) Other entities providing advisory services on healthcare and nutrition for pregnant women and children;

d) Organizations and individuals related to the establishment of health records and conducting regular health check-ups for children according to age.

Article 2. Establishing health records for children

The health record for children is a component of the personal health management file containing information about the health of children initially created for pregnant women and children and regularly updated when children undergo medical examinations, treatments, and regular health check-ups to serve the management, care, and improvement of children's health as stipulated in Decision No. 831/QĐ-BYT dated March 11, 2017 of the Minister of Health on issuing the Model Personal Health Management File for Primary Healthcare Services (hereinafter referred to as the Personal Health Management File).

Article 3. Regular health check-ups for children according to age

1. Regular health check-ups for children: general examinations and health checks once a year for children from birth to under 16 years old to detect diseases early and health risks to provide appropriate advice, treatment, or intervention.

2. Infants from birth to before entering kindergarten and children under 6 years old who do not attend school shall have regular health check-ups at commune health stations (hereinafter referred to as Commune Health Stations) regarding the following contents:

a) Measuring length, height, and weight to assess physical development;

b) Comprehensive examination to assess mental, motor development, detect diseases, abnormal signs, and health risks;

c) Vaccination check according to schedule and Expanded Program on Immunization for unvaccinated or vaccinated children with need;

d) Concluding on health status, advising, and referring to suitable healthcare facilities if diseases, abnormal signs, or health risks are detected.

3. Children aged 7 to under 16 years old who do not attend school shall have regular health check-ups at Commune Health Stations according to the contents recorded in the Personal Health Management File.

4. Schoolchildren from kindergarten to junior high school shall be subject to health checks and regular health check-ups according to the contents stipulated in Article 9 of Joint Circular No. 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT dated May 12, 2016 on school health work (hereinafter referred to as Joint Circular No. 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT).

Article 4. Health care and nutrition counseling for pregnant women and children

1. Health care and nutrition counseling for pregnant women: provide information and guidance on how to care for health and nutrition for pregnant women during each prenatal check-up according to the content specified in the Pre-natal Care and Counseling for Pregnant Women section as stipulated in Decision No. 4128/QĐ-BYT dated July 29, 2016 of the Minister of Health approving the "National Guidelines for Reproductive Health Services" (hereinafter referred to as the National Reproductive Health Guidelines).

2. Health care and nutrition counseling for children: provide information and guidance to children and their parents or guardians on how to care for health and nutrition during each regular health check-up according to the following contents:

a) For children from birth to six years old: counsel according to age-appropriate content specified in the Regular Child Health Examination Guidance section as stipulated in the National Reproductive Health Guidelines;

b) For children aged seven to under sixteen years old: counsel on issues related to school illnesses; guide on reproductive health care according to the content specified in the Adolescent Reproductive Health Care section as stipulated in the National Reproductive Health Guidelines; counsel on balanced and reasonable dietary regimes according to current guidelines of the Institute of Nutrition.

Article 5. Funding Implementation

The funding for establishing health monitoring files and regular health checks based on age for children shall be sourced from state budget, health insurance, and other lawful sources as prescribed by law.

Article 6. Implementation Organization

1. Responsibilities of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities:

a) Direct and assign tasks to People's Committees at all levels and relevant Departments in organizing and coordinating the implementation of this Circular within their respective jurisdictions; annually approve plans of the province regarding the establishment of health monitoring files and regular health checks for children; health care and nutrition counseling for pregnant women and children;

b) Based on actual circumstances, proactively allocate funds from the state budget and other lawful sources of the locality, human resources, and facilities to ensure the implementation of the approved annual plan.

2. Responsibilities of the Provincial Departments of Health under the Central Government:

a) Submit to competent authorities for approval the annual plan regarding the establishment of health monitoring files and regular health checks for children; health care and nutrition counseling for pregnant women and children;

b) Direct, guide, inspect, and supervise medical facilities within their jurisdiction in implementing this Circular;

c) Assign a provincial or city medical facility to act as the main contact point to assist the Department of Health in organizing and guiding the implementation of the contents of this Circular;

d) Conduct statistics and report results in accordance with Circular No. 28/2014/TT-BYT dated August 14, 2014 of the Ministry of Health on "Regulations on Content of Statistical Indicators System in the Health Sector";

3. Responsibilities of District Health Centers:

a) Advise the People's Committee of districts, towns, and the Director of the Provincial Department of Health in planning and directing the implementation of the provisions of this Circular within their respective jurisdictions;

b) Organize and direct the development of plans to implement the establishment of health monitoring files and support regular health checks for children; health care and nutrition counseling for pregnant women and children according to the hierarchical division;

c) Coordinate human resources to support Commune Health Stations in establishing health monitoring files and conducting regular health checks based on age for children;

d) Implement school health work in accordance with Joint Circular No. 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT;

đ) Organize inspections and technical support for Commune Health Stations in implementing this Circular;

e) Conduct statistics and report results in accordance with Circular No. 28/2014/TT-BYT dated August 14, 2014 of the Ministry of Health on "Regulations on Content of Statistical Indicators System in the Health Sector";

4. Responsibilities of Commune Health Stations:

a) Advise the People's Committee of communes, wards, and towns in planning and directing the implementation of the provisions of this Circular;

b) Take the lead in developing annual plans, organize the establishment of health monitoring files for children; conduct regular health checks for children who do not attend school; provide health care and nutrition counseling for pregnant women and children; conduct statistics and report in accordance with the law;

c) Implement school health work in accordance with Joint Circular No. 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT.

5. Responsibilities of units under the Ministry of Health:

a) The Maternal and Child Health Department acts as the central coordinating unit, cooperating with Departments/Bureaus and related agencies in directing, guiding, evaluating, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular;

b) The Preventive Medicine Bureau acts as the central coordinating unit, cooperating with the Maternal and Child Health Department in implementing, supervising, evaluating, and reporting on the content of student health checks;

c) The Medical Examination and Treatment Management Bureau acts as the central coordinating unit, cooperating with the Maternal and Child Health Department in implementing, supervising, evaluating, and reporting on the content of health record management.

Article 7. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from September 15, 2017.

2. In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are replaced or amended, they shall be implemented according to the replacing or amended documents.

3. Heads of Departments, Bureaus, General Directors, Chief of the Office, Chief Inspector under the Ministry of Health; Heads of units under the Ministry of Health; Directors of Provincial Departments of Health and related agencies and individuals are responsible for enforcing this Circular. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals should promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Health (Maternal and Child Health Department) for consideration and resolution within their authority.

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals should promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Health (Maternal and Child Health Department) for consideration and resolution within their authority./.