Vietnam: Draft decree on medical data management

In brief

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is drafting a decree on medical data management ("Draft Decree") to establish a legal framework for (i) medical data management and development, (i) the establishment of the National Medical Database, and (iii) detailing the implementation of electronics health records and health books.

The Draft Decree is currently open for public consultation until 3 August 2024.


Contents

In details

  • Overview of the Draft Decree: The Draft Decree has four chapters with 29 articles. The draft currently open for public consultation is the third draft.
  • Medical data: Medical data is defined as information on medical fields, including: medical examination, treatment and rehabilitation, medical examination, forensic examination, and forensic psychiatric examination; preventive medicine; traditional medicine and pharmacy; pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; medical equipment and medical works; food safety; population and reproductive health; health insurance; environmental protection in medical activities; training of medical human resources and science and technology in the medical field.
  • National Medical Database: The National Medical Database will include, among others, (i) information on facilities established or licensed to operate in medical related fields; (ii) information on human resources in medical related fields; (iii) information on medical devices; (iv) information on pharmaceuticals; and (iv) information on personal health. The MOH will be the management agency of the National Medical Database.
  • Collecting, updating, altering, maintaining, using, connecting and sharing medical data: The Draft Decree provides the rights and obligations of state agencies, data subjects and other related organizations/individuals in collecting, updating, altering, maintaining, using, connecting and sharing medical data. Notably, relevant organizations and individuals shall be entitled to exploit and use medical data in accordance with the functions, tasks, authorizations and purposes registered with the MOH. The Draft Decree does not provide any further registration details.
  • Effective date: The Draft Decree is proposed to take effect within 2024. However, no specific date has been officially announced just yet.

In conclusion

The Draft Decree is an effort of the MOH to realize Decision No. 749/QD-TTg dated 3 June 2020 of the Prime Minister approving the "National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with a vision to 2030", in which the MOH was assigned to take charge of digital transformation in the medical fields, including the establishment of the National Medical Database.

We are closely monitoring its progress, and we will keep you informed of any related developments. If you have any questions or need advice on how this proposed change might impact your business, please feel free to contact us.

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