Reducing the burden on patients
At the Breast Clinic, K Hospital, information about long-term treatment has moved many breast cancer patients.
Ms. Le Thi T (43 years old, Hung Yen) shared that in 2024, she was diagnosed with stage 2 right breast cancer, hormonal cancer. After surgery, she underwent 6 chemotherapy sessions and continued radiation therapy 15 times.
"I only go to the doctor once every three months, but every month I have to take a day off work to get medicine. Traveling, waiting and completing procedures is very tiring" - Ms. T said.
When she learned that she had been given long-term medicine, she was really relieved.
I am happy and extremely excited. This is a great support for cancer patients like me. Now I no longer worry about having to travel around every month, waiting all the time to get medicine" - she expressed.
Giving her medicine for 3 months not only reduces travel pressure but also helps her have more time to rest, take care of her health and recover after treatment.
Ms. Nguyen Thi M (Tuyen Quang) also had the same joy. In 2023, she discovered breast cancer, underwent surgery and 8 rounds of chemotherapy combined with targeted drugs. Although her condition is stable, she still has to take hormonal medicine regularly and go to Hanoi every month to receive medicine.
"Hearing the news of being given medicine for 3 months, I felt like I was relieved of my burden. This is the wish of all patients from afar like me" - Ms. M shared.
Many patients at K Hospital expressed that reducing the number of visits to the hospital not only saves costs and reduces fatigue but also creates conditions for them to maintain an optimistic spirit in treatment.
Many practical benefits from the new Circular
In order to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment and strengthen management of safe drug use, the Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 26/2025/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2025. The Circular clearly stipulates the prescription of pharmaceutical and biological drugs for outpatient treatment at medical facilities.
According to this circular, from July 1, people with 252 chronic diseases are allowed to prescribe outpatient medicine for up to 90 days, instead of only a maximum of 30 days as before. The specific duration of drug use will be decided by the doctor, based on the patient's condition and stability.
In addition to common diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, bronchitis, COPD, depression, anxiety disorder... the list of diseases applied also extends to many other diseases such as: Chronic hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, hypothyroidism, Thalassemia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, dementia.
Prof. Dr. Le Van Quang - Director of K Hospital - said that the unit has immediately implemented the Circular since July 1, 2025 and considered this an important step in modernizing the health care process.
Certificate 26 creates a strict legal framework, standardizes prescriptions, contributes to raising the responsibility of doctors and ensuring the rights of patients during treatment - he emphasized.
According to Professor Quang, the new regulation not only unifies the prescription process but also limits the abuse of drugs and prescriptions that are not in accordance with prescriptions - problems that have been common in many places. Information about the prescription will also be fully stored in paper or electronic medical records. Each prescription must clearly state the dosage, number of times taken per day and the total number of treatment days, making inspection and supervision easier.
He added: "The new regulation brings many advantages. Patients are treated according to the regimen, avoiding drug abuse. Doctors and medical staff also reduce procedural pressure, making it convenient to connect data for management and monitoring".
For patients in provinces far from Hanoi, this policy has special significance. They will no longer have to travel hundreds of kilometers every month to get medicine, reducing fatigue and expense.
