Circular No. 27/2017/TT-BYT on the management and use of ambulance cars

CIRCULAR

Regulations on Standards and Use of Ambulances

Pursuant to Decree No.75/2017/NĐ-CP dated 20 the 6 Article 2. The receipt, handling of reflections and petitions from individuals and organizations concerning administrative regulations shall be carried out in accordance with Decree No. 20/2008/NĐ-CP dated February 14, 2008 of the Government on the receipt, handling of reflections and petitions from individuals and organizations concerning administrative regulations (amended and supplemented by Decree No. 48/2013/NĐ-CP dated May 14, 2013 on amending and supplementing certain articles of decrees related to administrative procedure control and Decree No. 92/2017/NĐ-CP dated August 7, 2017 on amending and supplementing certain articles of decrees related to administrative procedure control).7 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 Equipment and Health Works;

The Minister of Health issues the Regulations on Standards and Use of Ambulances.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. These Circulars stipulate standards and use of ambulances, including:

a) Standards for ambulances;

b) Use of ambulances.

2. These Circulars apply to healthcare facilities licensed to operate medical examination and treatment services, including:

a) Emergency service facilities and patient transport support services;

b) Hospitals with emergency transportation means within and outside the hospital.

Article 2. Standards for ambulances

An ambulance must be an automobile that meets the requirements set out in Section 3.1.2 of the Vietnamese Standard TCVN 7271:2003 on road traffic vehicles - Automobiles - Classification according to purpose of use and can only be used when meeting the following standards:

1. Standards for external equipment of the ambulance must be fixed, including:

a) A device for emitting signals of priority vehicles, including rotating or flashing red lights mounted on the roof of the vehicle, a siren for emitting priority signals. The issuance of permits for using devices emitting signals of priority vehicles shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Law;

b) Information boards about the user unit displayed on both sides of the main driver's door and the passenger side door of the ambulance with a minimum size (height: 45cm, width: 50cm), which must meet the following minimum information requirements:

- The logo of the user unit (if any): Minimum size (height: 18cm, width: 18cm).

- Name, address, and contact phone number of the healthcare facility as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 1 of this Circular.

- The license number for operating medical examination and treatment issued by the competent state authority.

The layout of the information board about the user unit is specified in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

2. Standards for internal equipment of the ambulance:

a) Main stretcher: Sliding type, with safety belts, equipped with wheels;

b) Seat for medical staff;

c) Plastic floor mat: Anti-slip, easy to clean, disinfect;

d) Lighting inside the vehicle (for emergency care of patients);

đ) IV drip hanger;

e) 12V power outlet;

g) Drawer, rack, shelf, specialized cabinet for installing accompanying medical equipment of the oxygen system, other medical equipment, medicines, first aid supplies ensuring convenience in operation and easy cleaning, disinfection.

h) Escape hammer;

i) In case of an off-site emergency team, the ambulance must ensure the quantity of medicines and medical equipment as prescribed in Decision No. 3385/QĐ-BYT dated September 18, 2012 of the Minister of Health on the list of emergency medicine bags, first aid tools, essential medicines, and essential medical equipment for an off-site emergency team on an ambulance;

k) Additionally, depending on actual conditions and professional requirements, healthcare facilities may equip additional necessary medical equipment to serve professional needs, ensuring sufficient medical equipment, medicines, and first aid supplies for patients.

Article 3. Use of Ambulances

1. Ambulances shall only be used for the following purposes:

a) Transporting critically ill patients or picking up critically ill patients;

b) Transporting medical personnel, healthcare workers, medicines, and medical equipment to serve disaster rescue operations, traffic accident rescues, and other urgent needs of specialized medical examination and treatment activities and disease prevention and control.

2. Ambulances shall not be used for purposes other than those specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Ambulances may only use priority signal devices when they have a valid priority signal device usage permit issued by the competent authority and when performing tasks in accordance with the laws on road traffic.

4. When transporting patients to and from medical examination and treatment facilities, ambulances must comply with the internal regulations and guidelines of such facilities.

Article 4. Responsibilities for Implementation

1. The Medical Equipment and Construction Department of the Ministry of Health shall be responsible for: Leading and coordinating with relevant agencies to direct, guide, inspect, and supervise the management and use of ambulances in medical examination and treatment facilities nationwide.

2. The Departments of Health of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall be responsible for:

a) Directing, guiding, inspecting, and supervising the management and use of ambulances within their jurisdiction;

b) Serving as the focal point for monitoring ambulances of medical examination and treatment facilities (including units under the Ministry of Health and health departments of other ministries and sectors) in their respective areas;

c) Sharing annual monitoring data on ambulances with traffic police forces in their respective areas.

3. Medical facilities shall be responsible for:

a) Managing ambulance activities at the facility;

b) Must assign and arrange ambulances to perform tasks according to their intended purpose and ensure timely availability when required;

c) Guiding, facilitating conditions, and not engaging in actions or regulations that obstruct ambulances from other medical examination and treatment facilities when conducting patient transport activities at their own facility, including cases where patients or their families do not use the facility's ambulances but hire ambulances from other medical examination and treatment facilities for transport.

Article 5. Implementation Provisions

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

Circular No. 16/1998/TT-BYT dated December 15, 1998, of the Minister of Health regarding the importation, management, and use of ambulances shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

2. Ambulances already in use before the effective date of this Circular may continue to be used but must meet all standards and provisions of this Circular by July 1, 2018.

3. In cases where referenced documents in this document are replaced or amended, implementation shall be carried out in accordance with the replacing or amended documents.

During implementation, if there are any difficulties, organizations and individuals are requested to promptly report to the Ministry of Health (Medical Equipment and Construction Department) for consideration and resolution./.