Vietnam Social Security has just issued Official Dispatch No. 160/BHXH-TTKS requesting social security agencies of provinces and cities to review and report on the implementation of outpatient drug issuance for over 30 days for patients with health insurance cards at health insurance medical examination and treatment facilities in the area in accordance with regulations.
According to Vietnam Social Security, prescribing and dispensing outpatient drugs for more than 30 days is currently regulated in point b, clause 8, Article 6 of Circular No. 26/2025/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2025 of the Ministry of Health and related guiding documents. This regulation allows patients with chronic and stable diseases to be dispensed drugs for a longer time, thereby reducing the number of trips, saving costs and ensuring continuous treatment.
Vietnam Social Security requests local Social Security agencies to urgently review the actual implementation at health insurance medical examination and treatment facilities, promptly report any difficulties and obstacles arising. At the same time, closely coordinate with medical facilities to synchronously implement drug dispensing in accordance with regulations, avoiding the situation of uncoordinated implementation, affecting the rights of patients.
Previously, the Ministry of Health also sent documents to the Departments of Health of provinces and cities; medical examination and treatment facilities and social insurance agencies nationwide on the implementation of Circular 26/2025/TT-BYT. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health requests localities to fully grasp the regulations at point b, clause 8, Article 6 of the Circular, ensuring that outpatient prescriptions are up to 90 days suitable to the disease condition and list of diseases specified in Appendix VII issued with the Circular.
Notably, outpatient prescriptions for over 30 days are applied uniformly, regardless of whether patients have health insurance cards or not, in order to create the most favorable conditions for patients, limit unnecessary procedures and promote administrative reform in the health sector.
The Ministry of Health also requests to strengthen the management of chronic diseases, rectify the situation of appointments for examination, paraclinical services, prescriptions and unreasonable use of medical equipment. This is to use the HI Fund effectively, economically, for the right purpose, while ensuring the legitimate rights of HI participants.
For medical examination and treatment facilities, the Ministry of Health requests to organize full training for medical staff on medical examination and treatment procedures, patient rights and health insurance benefits. Facilities must specifically guide the use of drugs, re-examination schedules and be responsible if insufficient guidance occurs causing trouble or affecting the safety and rights of patients.
During holidays and extended Tet, especially the New Year and the Lunar New Year of Binh Ngo 2026, the Ministry of Health requests medical facilities to proactively provide enough medicine for eligible patients, helping patients feel secure in treatment and limit having to travel many times.
The fact that Vietnam Social Security and the Ministry of Health simultaneously tightened and reviewed the issuance of outpatient drugs for over 30 days is expected to contribute to ensuring the rights of health insurance participants, while improving the quality of medical examination and treatment and the efficiency of health insurance fund management.
