According to the reporter's records, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City have deployed and guided referral procedures for patients with disease categories, disease groups, and rare and serious diseases that are covered 100% by health insurance.
On January 15, at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, many patients came to see a doctor with health insurance. The hospital arranged staff to guide patients about health insurance benefits and referral procedures according to the new guidelines.
Ms. N.T.N (An Giang province) shared that the distance from her hometown to Ho Chi Minh City for treatment is quite far, and she has to ask for a referral letter every time she goes to the city for a check-up. "It takes me about a day to ask for a referral letter, there are many procedures and many steps. With this new regulation, I and many other patients can feel secure in receiving treatment" - Ms. N said.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital said that the unit has implemented this new regulation for about 2 weeks now. The hospital is classified as a highly specialized hospital.
In case the patient has a rare disease, a serious disease, a disease requiring surgery or using high-tech services according to Circular 01/2025/TT-BYT, the patient must present documents proving the disease such as a prescription/hospital discharge papers..., no referral letter is required.
Patients who go for medical examination and treatment use the referral form within 10 working days from the date of signing the referral form. The referral form for transferring diseases according to Circular 01/2025/TT-BYT is valid for 1 year from the date of signing, applicable to referral forms signed annually - from 2024.
To facilitate people in receiving health insurance examination and treatment according to new regulations, Cho Ray Hospital has arranged staff to guide patients at reception counters about the referral procedures. The unit also updates information and answers questions on the hospital's fanpage.
Similarly, according to the new guidance of Circular 01/2025/TT-BYT, Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital implemented the regulation on January 1, 2025. Both hospital facilities in Binh Thanh District and Thu Duc City are classified as specialized.
A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital said that among the 62 groups of diseases exempted from referral papers, the unit usually treats 9 groups of cancers. Patients with pancreatic cancer, malignant tumors of the lymphatic system, hematopoietic system and related tissues... continue treatment at the hospital without needing to request a referral paper.
Circular No. 01/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health, effective from January 1, 2025, details and guides the implementation of a number of articles of the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, including regulations on a number of diseases that do not require a referral.
The Circular issued with a list of some rare diseases, serious diseases, diseases requiring surgery or using high technology are entitled to 100% of the benefits according to regulations.
Patients are entitled to benefits after being diagnosed by a medical facility with a disease on the list of 62 diseases.
