252 patients were prescribed outpatient medication for 30

The ability to prescribe outpatient medication for up to 90 days for 252 diseases and chronic disease groups is a notable new point in the context of the increasing number of chronic patients in Vietnam, while frequent re-examination puts considerable pressure on time and cost.

According to Circular 26, the doctor will base on the clinical condition and stability of the patient to decide the number of days of use of each drug in the prescription, with a maximum of not more than 90 days. In case the professional documents do not specifically guide the number of days of use of the drug, the doctor can still flexibly prescribe according to this maximum level if it is suitable for the patient.

Circular 26 also updates a series of contents to enhance accuracy, clarity and transparency in prescriptions. In particular, personal information of patients such as identification number, citizen identification or passport will be mandatory information. For people who already have a personal identification code, information fields such as gender, date of birth or permanent address will not need to be declared - in line with the policy of connecting citizen data in the digital transformation period.

Circular 26/2025/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health issued on June 30, 2025 allows outpatient prescriptions for up to 90 days for 252 specific diseases and groups of diseases.

Another significant improvement is that the prescription must clearly show the amount of medicine used at each time, the number of times used per day and the number of days of treatment. This helps patients understand and use the medicine as directed, minimizing errors or drug abuse.

Notably, Circular 26 also adjusts regulations in cases where a patient visits multiple specialists at once. Instead of each specialist prescribing a separate prescription, the hospital will be responsible for assigning a single prescribing doctor, ensuring that the prescription is reasonable and avoiding duplication or unwanted interactions between drugs.

In terms of procedures, Circular 26 has removed the medical examination book form. Patients coming for examination or being discharged from the hospital will be prescribed directly on the prescription and stored and managed in medical records - replacing the previous manual recording form. This is a step forward in line with the digitalization trend of the health sector.

In addition, Circular 26 is also updated in line with the new provisions of the 2023 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment and the 2024 revised Law on Pharmacy. Accordingly, the prescription of drugs must ensure the correct purpose, safety, rationality and effectiveness, and be consistent with the diagnosis and condition of the patient. The use of drugs must also comply with technical guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. The Circular also clarifies how to handle addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs or precursors in cases where the patient does not use them all or dies, ensuring safety and compliance with regulations.

Minh Thu

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/tin-tuc/y-te/252-benh-duoc-ke-don-thuoc-ngoai-tru-tu-30-90-ngay/20250702043756686