Many chronic diseases are prescribed for more than 30 days.

Extending the outpatient prescription period to a maximum of 90 days for certain diseases and groups of diseases is expected to bring significant benefits to patients and medical facilities.

Representatives from K Hospital ( Ministry of Health ) stated that the hospital has implemented Circular 26/2025 of the Ministry of Health, which regulates prescriptions and the prescribing of chemical and biological drugs in outpatient treatment at medical facilities. Accordingly, outpatient cancer patients are now prescribed and dispensed medication for 90 days, instead of only 30 days as before July 1, 2025.

The list of conditions for which outpatient prescriptions are required for more than 30 days includes many common chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

PHOTO: LIEN CHAU

According to K Hospital, Circular 26/2025 creates a stricter legal framework, contributing to standardizing prescription procedures, enhancing the responsibility of medical practitioners, and protecting the rights of patients; improving the quality of treatment, helping patients access accurate treatment protocols, and minimizing drug abuse and misuse.

The new regulations also help ensure that patients receive comprehensive information about medications and treatments; making it more convenient for patients to visit clinics, receive medication, and take home for treatment, especially for outpatient cancer patients living in distant provinces.

Regarding some new points in Circular 26/2025, the Ministry of Health stated that it has stipulated 252 diseases and groups of diseases for which outpatient prescriptions can be applied for more than 30 days, starting from July 1, 2025 (previously, outpatient prescriptions were limited to a maximum of 30 days). This list includes many common chronic diseases: diabetes; hypertension, cardiovascular diseases; respiratory and digestive diseases, etc. Prescribers decide the number of days each medication should be used based on the patient's condition and stability, with a maximum duration of 90 days for each medication.

Circular 26/2025 also adds several mandatory information fields to prescriptions, such as: recording the patient's personal identification number, citizen identification number, or passport number; Vietnamese citizens providing their personal identification number do not need to declare information about gender, date of birth, or permanent address. Prescribers must clearly state the quantity of medication to be used each time, the number of times it should be used per day, and the number of days the medication will be used in the prescription for the patient.

In cases where a patient visits multiple specialists in a single visit, the hospital independently decides who prescribes the medication, ensuring the patient receives only one prescription, guaranteeing safety (avoiding duplication and drug interactions), and ensuring the effectiveness and appropriateness of the prescription. Prescriptions must be consistent with the diagnosis and the patient's condition.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhieu-benh-man-tinh-duoc-ke-don-thuoc-tren-30-ngay-185250703174146706.htm