Circular No. 50/2010/TT-BYT guiding the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine in the process of diagnosis and treatment

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for combining traditional medicine with modern medicine during diagnosis and treatment.

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

The Ministry of Health guides the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine during diagnosis and treatment as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular provides guidelines for combining traditional medicine with modern medicine during diagnosis and treatment.

Article 2. Principles for Combining Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine During Diagnosis and Treatment

Clause 1. The combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine in diagnosis and treatment shall be carried out according to the principle of integrating traditional medical diagnosis and treatment methods with modern medical diagnostic and treatment methods, and vice versa.

Clause 2. The combination of traditional medical techniques and methods with modern medicine must comply with the Circular detailing the division of specialized technical levels for the national healthcare system issued by the Minister of Health, or within the scope of professional activities recorded in the operating license issued by the Minister of Health, the Minister of Defense, or the Director of the Department of Health.

Clause 3. The combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine should be harmonious and reasonable based on the disease and its stage.

Chapter II

COMBINING TRADITIONAL MEDICINE WITH MODERN MEDICINE DURING

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Article 3. Persons Designating the Combination of Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine During Diagnosis and Treatment

Persons designating the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine during diagnosis and treatment include:

Point 1. General practitioners, traditional medicine doctors, specialist doctors.

Point 2. Traditional medicine assistants, general practice assistants in areas with particularly difficult economic and social conditions, ethnic minority regions, and places without doctors.

Article 4. Traditional Medical Methods for Combining with Modern Medicine During Diagnosis and Treatment

Traditional medical methods for combining with modern medicine during diagnosis and treatment include:

Point 1. In diagnosis: Four Examinations (observation, inquiry, questioning, palpation).

Point 2. In treatment:

Subpoint a. Medicinal methods: soaking in medicinal baths, inserting medicines, steam inhalation, aerosol inhalation, bandaging with medicines, compresses, topical medications, oral medications, injectable medications, and intravenous infusions.

Subpoint b. Non-medicinal methods: massage, acupuncture, health cultivation, qigong, various needling and moxibustion methods, cupping, implantation therapy, bloodletting.

Article 5. Combining Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine at Traditional Medicine Hospitals

The combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine at traditional medicine hospitals must be implemented as follows:

Clause 1. Based on the Essential Drug List issued by the Minister of Health, the hospital director establishes a list of emergency and treatment drugs for patients at the hospital.

Clause 2. Traditional medicine hospitals (excluding acupuncture hospitals) must ensure organization in outpatient and inpatient care using traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, compounding and supplying traditional Chinese medicine, and herbal medicine according to treatment needs.

Article 6. Combining Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine at Other Hospitals

The combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine at other hospitals is implemented as follows:

Clause 1. Establishing a department or unit of traditional medicine at the hospital.

Clause 2. The hospital director is responsible for directing and approving the coordination between departments and units in the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine, with the traditional medicine department or unit being the focal point.

Clause 3. Using traditional medical methods in diagnosis and treatment as specified in Article 4 of this Circular.

Clause 4. Utilizing modern medical technical equipment appropriately for disease diagnosis, organizing application, and evaluating the results of traditional medical prescriptions and treatment methods.

Clause 5. Ensuring sufficient herbal materials, traditional Chinese medicine, and herbal medicine to meet the requirements for combining traditional medicine with modern medicine in diagnosis and treatment.

Article 7. Combination of Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine at Other Medical Examination and Treatment Facilities

The combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine at other medical examination and treatment facilities shall be carried out as follows:

1. For facilities where doctors are responsible for medical examinations and treatments: use modern medical equipment and medicines for medical examinations and treatments.

2. For facilities where physician assistants are responsible for medical examinations and treatments: use the results of modern medical tests and functional examinations for medical examinations and treatments.

Chapter III

RECORDING AND REPORTING

Article 8. Recording the Combination of Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine during Medical Examinations and Treatments

The person who prescribes the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine must carry out recording as follows:

1. For inpatient patients: record in the "Treatment Method" section of the inpatient medical record summary.

2. For outpatient patients: record in the outpatient medical record summary or the outpatient clinic's patient logbook.

Article 9. Reporting the Combination of Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine during Medical Examinations and Treatments for Medical Examination and Treatment Facilities

Reporting on the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine during medical examinations and treatments for medical examination and treatment facilities shall be carried out as follows:

1. Traditional medicine hospitals and other hospitals shall report annually on the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine according to the Hospital Inspection Form issued by the Minister of Health.

2. Other medical examination and treatment facilities shall have the responsibility to report on the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine to the Provincial Health Department or Sectoral Health Authority (Annex attached to this Circular). The Provincial Health Department or Sectoral Health Authority shall compile and submit the reports to the Ministry of Health (Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management and Department of Traditional Medicine) before December 15 each year (data for one year is calculated from October 1 to September 30 of the following year).

3. Annually, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management shall act as the lead, coordinating with the Department of Traditional Medicine to compile and submit a report to the leadership of the Ministry of Health on the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine during medical examinations and treatments; simultaneously sending it to the Department of Planning and Finance for inclusion in the general statistical data of the sector.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 10. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2011.

Article 11. Responsibility for Implementation

Gentlemen, Ladies: Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Director of the Department of Traditional Medicine, Head of the Office of the Ministry, Head of the Inspectorate of the Ministry, Directors of all Departments, Directors of all Departments/Councils of the Ministry of Health, Directors of hospitals with beds, Directors of provincial health departments under central cities and heads of health sectors are responsible for organizing implementation, inspection, and evaluation of the implementation of this Circular;

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, it is requested that units and localities promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Health (Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management) for guidance, consideration, and resolution./.