Urgently develop a toolkit to assess medical examination and treatment capacity

The first national medical examination and treatment competency assessment exam is expected to be held in 2027.

Experts discuss at the workshop "National Medical Licensing Exam: Administration, Policy and Practice" held in Ho Chi Minh City today, June 23 - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

On June 23, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy organized a workshop on "National Medical Licensing Exam: Administration, Policy and Practice" with the participation of nearly 100 domestic and foreign experts.

Standard medical practice competency assessment system

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan - Chairman of the National Medical Council, said that the council has been building the necessary foundations for organizing the examination to assess the capacity to practice medical examination and treatment, including: perfecting the organizational structure, and at the same time planning to build a set of tools to assess the capacity to practice according to international standards.

According to Mr. Thuan, the medical examination and treatment competency assessment test is not just a final skills test, but an extension of the competency-based medical education (CBME) process.

"This is a systemic change, requiring consensus and active participation from all stakeholders: from training institutions, practice facilities, management agencies to learners themselves. In the coming time, the National Medical Council is committed to building a standardized, transparent and socially recognized system of assessing professional competence," Mr. Thuan emphasized.

Improve training quality, standardize medical human resources, towards protecting patients

At the workshop, Professor Park Hoon-ki - Chairman of the Examination Council, Korean Medical Licensing Examination Institute and Professor Seo Ji-hyun - Medical Licensing Practical Examination Committee, Korean National Medical Licensing Examination Council, shared experiences in organizing the national medical licensing examination (structure, process, standards and national policy framework).

Prof. Dr. Tran Diep Tuan - Chairman of the Board of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the exam to assess professional capacity will create motivation for health training schools to improve their programs, teaching methods and output standards.

"The new law stipulates that to practice, doctors not only need a diploma but must also pass an exam organized by the National Medical Council.

This is an important step forward, demonstrating Vietnam's strong commitment to improving the quality of training, the quality of medical examination and treatment, and ensuring patient safety," Mr. Tuan emphasized.

According to Professor Tuan, through this workshop, schools will better understand the role and significance of the national medical practice competency assessment exam to make necessary preparations to ensure that their students achieve the necessary competency standards.

With the recent innovation of the training program based on competency standards in collaboration with Harvard University (USA), Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy is having many advantages, however, some schools will have difficulties.

Organizing this national medical examination and treatment competency assessment exam contributes to promoting and improving the quality of training and professional quality of the entire medicaleducation system.

Therefore, this exam will support all schools that train health sciences to improve and enhance their training capacity, thereby improving the quality of medical staff and most importantly, ensuring patient safety.

Prof. Dr. Tran Diep Tuan discussed with experts at the workshop - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

Prof. Dr. Tran Diep Tuan is the head of the committee to develop a capacity assessment toolkit.

At the workshop, the National Medical Council also announced the decision to establish a Committee for Developing a Toolkit for Assessing Medical Practice Competency, headed by Prof. Dr. Tran Diep Tuan, with two deputy heads, Associate Prof. Dr. Kim Bao Giang (Hanoi Medical University) and Associate Prof. Dr. Vuong Thi Ngoc Lan (Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy).

According to Professor Tuan, the initial test bank is expected to include 1,500 questions, carefully screened to select 900 high-quality questions.

"There is only about 1.5 years left, so we have to be quick. Creating questions is only one part. Equally important is building the testing process, securing the question bank, and organizing the exam on a national scale," he said.

From 2027, competency assessment is mandatory for practicing doctors

The Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (amended) stipulates that the National Medical Council is an organization established by the Prime Minister, with the function of independently assessing the capacity to practice medical examination and treatment, from January 1, 2027 for the title of doctor, from January 1, 2028 for the titles of physician, nurse, midwife and from January 1, 2029 for the titles of medical technician, clinical nutritionist, outpatient emergency worker and clinical psychologist.

Up to now, the country has had 214 medical personnel training facilities, including 66 universities, with 34 medical doctors, 18 dentists, 13 traditional medicine doctors, and 10 preventive medicine doctors. The number of doctors graduating in 2024 is about 12,000 doctors.

TRAN HUYNH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khan-truong-xay-dung-bo-cong-cu-danh-gia-nang-luc-kham-chua-benh-20250623143017228.htm