Treatment facilities must be transparent about providing free medication to patients.

The Ministry of Health has just issued Circular 16/2026/TT-BYT regulating the implementation of the program to provide free medicines to medical examination and treatment facilities for the treatment of patients (hereinafter referred to as the program) as stipulated in point d, clause 1, article 42 of the Law on Pharmaceuticals, excluding medicines from non-refundable aid sources funded by the state budget. This Circular takes effect from July 10, 2026.

Các cơ sở điều trị phải minh bạch thuốc miễn phí cho người bệnh - Ảnh 1. — The medication support program helps reduce the financial burden on patients.

The implementation of the program is based on the support capabilities of pharmaceutical businesses, and does not obligate them to guarantee the availability of all necessary medications for patients. However, it must ensure that no fees are charged or any commercial conditions are attached to patients; and that it does not affect the patient's choice of treatment methods or the rational, safe, and effective prescription of medications.

The medications included in the program must be legally available in Vietnam. Eligible cases are patients who have been definitively diagnosed, prescribed appropriate medications according to the program's indications, and voluntarily participate. The Health Insurance Fund will not reimburse for the amount of free medications already used by patients with health insurance cards.

Pharmaceutical businesses and healthcare facilities sign a written agreement to implement the program as prescribed by the Ministry of Health , including: information on supportive medications; forms of support; quantity of supportive medications; target groups and indications for medication use; encouragement of support for people with meritorious service to the revolution, patients from poor and near-poor households, ethnic minorities, the elderly, people with disabilities, children, students, recipients of social assistance, workers with particularly difficult circumstances, patients with health insurance cards but still burdened by costs, etc. The document must clearly state the start and end dates of the program.

Circular 16/2026/TT-BYT also stipulates that drugs included in the program must be used according to indications and for the correct target group. Drugs must be stored separately and clearly marked as part of the program. Healthcare facilities implementing the program are responsible for publicly disclosing program information on their website or at the facility itself so that patients are aware; ensuring the effective and safe use of drugs, avoiding misuse and waste; and providing complete and timely information on treatment protocols, treatment effectiveness, adverse effects, and drug costs within the treatment regimen. Annually, healthcare facilities compile the results of the program implementation in their annual summary report.

According to the Health Insurance Department (Ministry of Health), the drug support program helps patients reduce the financial burden of treatment, especially for medications and serious illnesses with high costs such as cancer.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cac-co-so-dieu-tri-phai-minh-bach-thuoc-mien-phi-cho-nguoi-benh-185260527153627794.htm