Circular No. 56/2024/TT-BYT stipulates the outpatient traditional medicine treatment at hospitals issued by the Minister of Health

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON DAY-TREATMENT WITH TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AT HOSPITALS

Pursuant to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment dated January 9, 2023;

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 Traditional Medicine Management Department;

The Minister of Health issues this Circular to regulate day-treatment with traditional medicine at hospitals.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Article 1. This Circular regulates day-treatment with traditional medicine, including:

a) Indications, changes in treatment indications, and implementation of day-treatment;

b) Medical records for day-treatment.

Article 2. This Circular applies to healthcare facilities with beds for traditional medicine treatment, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 2. Indications, Changes in Treatment Indications, and Implementation of Day-Treatment

Clause 1. The indication for inpatient day-treatment with traditional medicine for patients falls within the authority and responsibility of medical practitioners and must meet the following criteria: the patient's health condition and disease require inpatient treatment but do not need continuous 24/7 monitoring and can still ensure the quality, purpose, and requirements of traditional medicine treatment.

Clause 2. Changes in treatment forms are decided by the practitioner based on the patient's condition and must:

a) Comply with the conditions for applying treatment forms prescribed in Articles 76, 77, and 78 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment;

b) Fully record the progression of the disease in the medical record, the treatment process, and preliminary review of the medical record when changing the treatment form as prescribed;

c) The time of changing the treatment form is determined at the time recorded in the medical record.

Clause 3. Day-treatment shall be carried out in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

Clause 4. Practitioners who prescribe day-treatment with traditional medicine must guide patients on how to monitor and detect abnormal signs related to their illness when they are not receiving treatment at the hospital.

Article 3. Day-Treatment Beds

Clause 1. The number of day-treatment beds at healthcare facilities is based on the scale of beds approved by the competent authority.

Clause 2. The maximum number of patients requiring day-treatment with traditional medicine per bed in a day shall not exceed three (3).

Article 4. Medical Records for Day-Treatment

Clause 1. Medical records used in day-treatment with traditional medicine shall be implemented according to the inpatient medical record model for traditional medicine prescribed in Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT dated December 31, 2023, issued by the Minister of Health detailing certain provisions of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

Clause 2. Practitioners responsible for prescribing day-treatment must clearly indicate the content of the prescription in the Admission Medical Examination Record when the patient arrives at the healthcare facility, except in cases where the treatment form is changed as stipulated in point b, clause 2, Article 2 of this Circular.

Article 5. Payment of Costs for Day-Treatment Medical Examination and Treatment

Clause 1. Patients not participating in health insurance shall pay the costs for day-treatment medical examination and treatment in accordance with clause 2, Article 18 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

Clause 2. Payment of costs for day-treatment medical examination and treatment for patients participating in health insurance shall be carried out as follows:

a) No payment for medical examinations during day-treatment;

b) The cost of day-treatment beds shall be implemented according to the service fee for medical examination and treatment approved by the competent authority for the hospital.

Article 6. Effectiveness

Article 7. Effective Date

Clause 1. This Circular takes effect from February 18, 2025.

Article 7. Transitional provisions and reference provisions

1. For patients undergoing treatment at healthcare facilities prior to the effective date of this Circular, they shall continue to be subject to the service fee levels for medical examination and treatment as prescribed by the competent authority before the implementation of the fee levels stipulated in this Circular until discharge or completion of the day treatment period.

2. In cases where referenced documents in this Circular are replaced, amended, or supplemented, the applicable documents shall be those that have been replaced, amended, or supplemented.

Article 8. Implementation organization

1. The Traditional Medicine Management Department shall be responsible for directing and organizing the implementation of this Circular and providing guidance on specialized content within its assigned functions and tasks.

2. Healthcare facilities shall be responsible for:

a) Organizing the implementation of this Circular to ensure appropriate reception of patients for day treatment within the scope of their specialized activities and the bed capacity approved by the competent authority;

b) Providing telephone numbers and contact methods for patients to reach out when there are unusual disease developments outside of hospital treatment hours.

During the implementation process, if difficulties or obstacles arise, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to promptly report to the Ministry of Health (Traditional Medicine Management Department) for consideration and resolution.

                                                                                               SIGNATURE OF THE MINISTER

                                                                                                 VICE MINISTER

                                                                                                 (signed)

                                                                                                     Doh Xuan Tuyen