Reader Pham Van Vinh (reader's name has been changed - PV) said that he graduated as a preventive medicine doctor, has been granted a practice certificate, and his scope of professional activities is examining, detecting and treating common diseases, and initially handling some emergency cases in the community.
"I would like to ask, after I finish the 9-month basic specialized class in internal medicine and practice for 9 months at the hospital's Internal Medicine Department, am I eligible to be granted additional professional scope of practice as a preventive medicine and internal medicine doctor?" - reader Vinh asked.
Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Health responded as follows:
According to the provisions of Point a, b Clause 2 Article 135 Decree No. 96/2023/ND-CP, conditions for granting and adjusting practice licenses:
"a) In cases where a practice license or practice certificate has been granted before January 1, 2024 but the scope of practice does not include a specialty and a request to add a specialty to the scope of practice must meet the following conditions:
- Have one of the training degrees prescribed in Points b, c, d, dd or e, Clause 1, Article 127 of this Decree or have a basic specialized training certificate prescribed in Clause 2, Article 128 of this Decree corresponding to the title on the practice license and the proposed additional specialty;
- Completed the practice process for the cases specified in Point b, c, Clause 2, Article 125 of this Decree.
b) In cases where a practice license or practice certificate has been granted before January 1, 2024, and the scope of practice already includes a specialty, but a request to add a specialty other than the specialty already granted within the scope of practice must meet the following conditions:
- Have one of the training degrees prescribed in Points b, c, d, dd or e, Clause 1, Article 127 of this Decree or have a basic specialized training certificate prescribed in Clause 2, Article 128 of this Decree corresponding to the title on the practice license and the proposed additional specialty;
- Completed the practice process for the cases specified in Point b, c Clause 2 Article 125 of this Decree".
According to the provisions of Point b Clause 2 Article 125 Decree No. 96/2023/ND-CP on the procedure for granting a license to practice medical examination and treatment:
"2. In case after being granted a practice license according to the provisions of Point a, Clause 1 of this Article or having a practice certificate granted before January 1, 2024, if that person continues to study a specialty:
... b) In case of being granted a basic specialty certificate, one must practice the specialty corresponding to the specialty trained on the basic specialty certificate until the total time of basic specialty training and practice time is 18 months (determined by the time of starting basic specialty training). After completing the practice, a request for adjustment of the practice license with the scope of specialized practice can be made".
Thus, a person with a preventive medicine degree who has been granted a practice certificate (practice license) after obtaining a basic specialty training certificate as prescribed and practicing a specialty corresponding to the specialty trained stated on the basic specialty certificate until the total basic specialty training time and practice time is 18 months (determined by the time of starting basic specialty training) is eligible to add the specialty studied and practiced.
