To:

- Hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health and universities;
- Departments of Health of provinces or central-affiliated cities of Vietnam;
- Ministerial and central health authorities (hereinafter collectively referred as "units").

The Ministry of Health has received complaints from patients and communication agencies about illegal referrals in several hospitals; referrals of patients to private health facilities for self-seeking purposes, thereby affecting the rights of policyholders for health insurance policies. In order to regulate the above acts, affiliated hospitals and universities, Departments of Health of provinces or central-affiliated cities of Vietnam and Heads of units shall:

1. Make a referral according to Circular No. 14/2014/TT-BYT dated April 14, 2014 on referral to and between examination and treatment facilities and Circular No. 40/2015/TT-BYT dated November 16, 2015 on registration of initial medical examination and treatment and referrals to and between examination and treatment facilities covered by health insurance.

2. The Departments of Health shall direct affiliated hospitals, when referring patients to the Central Eye Hospital, to contact and consult remotely via information technology systems for the Central Eye Hospital to arrange and provide treatment for patients. In case materials, treatment drugs and medical equipment in the Central Eye Hospital are not available, the Hospital shall refer patients to other hospitals qualified to implement techniques.

3. Leaders of hospitals shall prohibit their practitioners from refer patients to unqualified examination and treatment facilities or private examination and treatment facilities for self-seeking purposes leading to violations against regulations of Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

4. In case affiliated hospitals, universities and tertiary hospitals have suspended or unavailable services due to lack of materials, treatment drugs and medical equipment, etc., they must update such information on their websites to people being informed and report to their managing agencies. For your information and compliance./.

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PP. MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER




Tran Van Thuan