From 1-7, which chronic diseases are given medication for treatment for a maximum of 3 months/time?

After many years of chronic patients having to return for monthly check-ups to get medication, the Ministry of Health is drafting a new policy that would extend the maximum outpatient prescription period to 90 days for certain chronic diseases that have been treated stably.

People wait to get medicine with health insurance at Thu Duc General Hospital - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

This new circular is expected to be issued on July 1, replacing the current Circular 52/2017/TT-BYT which limits outpatient prescriptions to no more than 30 days.

200 chronic diseases are given medicine every 3 months

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online, Mr. Vuong Anh Duong - Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health - said that the policy of providing long-term treatment drugs comes from the practical needs of patients, especially those living in remote areas or the elderly and patients with difficulty traveling.

Previously, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health temporarily allowed the provision of drugs for a longer period of time to avoid overcrowding at hospitals. The results at that time showed many advantages: patients reduced the number of visits to the doctor, saving time and costs, while the quality of treatment was still guaranteed.

The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment has developed a list of chronic diseases that can be prescribed long-term medication. This list was consulted by more than 20 tertiary hospitals in specialties such as endocrinology, pediatrics, geriatrics, neurology, psychiatry, etc. and then reviewed by professional councils.

Up to now, the proposed list includes about 200 diseases, not only including common diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, COPD, anxiety disorders, depression, etc., but also expanding to many other diseases such as chronic hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, hypothyroidism, pituitary failure, and endocrine disorders.

Or blood and immune diseases such as Thalassemia, hemolytic anemia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, dementia...

Notably, the list also updates some gynecological diseases in adolescents such as menorrhagia during puberty.

Who will be given medicine for up to 3 months/time?

However, Mr. Duong also noted that not every disease on the list will be automatically given 90 days of medication.

"From the beginning, we have clearly identified that extending the prescription period is a matter of caution. Doctors will have to evaluate each specific patient to decide the number of days to provide the medicine, which can be 30, 60 or up to 90 days," Mr. Duong emphasized.

The new circular (once issued) will clearly stipulate that prescribers are responsible for their prescriptions, based on the patient's condition, diagnosis and ability to monitor treatment at home.

In case the medicine has not been used up but the disease progresses abnormally, or the patient cannot come for a follow-up visit on time, he/she needs to return to the medical facility for a re-examination and prescription adjustment if necessary.

Many factors must be considered when developing a list of patients who are prescribed long-term medications. Hospitals are required to analyze the risks if patients use long-term medications without being monitored.

From improper storage of medications, the risk of side effects, increased drug costs, to situations such as disease progression or patient death without the full dose of medication. All of these factors are carefully evaluated before a disease is listed.

Mr. Duong also said that to ensure safety, the health sector must implement many synchronous solutions. "Long-term prescriptions are only applied to stable diseases, with clear treatment regimens, safe drugs, and do not require frequent testing.

At the same time, patients also need to be carefully instructed by doctors to monitor their health and detect side effects early, if any," he emphasized.

Another issue raised is that providing medicine every 3 months may increase the cost of health insurance medicine. The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management will coordinate with the Vietnam Social Security to develop appropriate payment instructions when implementing in practice.

The new circular is expected to be issued by the Ministry of Health on July 1. Immediately after that, medical facilities across the country will be trained and guided to implement it uniformly, so that this policy can soon be put into practice, helping chronic patients to be treated more conveniently, safely and effectively.

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tu-1-7-nhung-benh-chronic-tinh-nao-duoc-cap-thuoc-dieu-tri-toi-da-3-thang-lan-20250611173407795.htm