From 2027: Competency assessment when granting medical practice certificates

From 2027, to be considered for a certificate to practice medicine, all medical students after graduation will have to pass a national competency assessment exam, organized by the National Medical Council.

Transparent process of capacity assessment and granting of practice certificates

On the afternoon of June 26, the National Medical Council held a ceremony to announce and award the decision to appoint 33 medical experts as members of the council. The National Medical Council currently has 37 members, chaired by Professor Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health .

Attending the announcement ceremony, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan proposed: "The National Medical Council urgently develops a set of tools to assess medical examination and treatment practice capacity and a process to assess medical examination and treatment practice capacity based on science, applying high technology, ensuring objectivity, transparency, and conformity with Vietnam's practice and international development.

It is necessary to coordinate with medical training institutions, medical examination and treatment facilities, and medical professional associations to move towards the goal of improving training quality, ensuring that medical students nationwide, upon graduation, must meet competency standards and be able to practice independently and safely.

The National Medical Council ensures transparency in assessing the capacity to practice medical examination and treatment.

PHOTO: NGUYEN NHIEN

Regarding the roadmap for implementing capacity assessment for professional positions, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that from January 1, 2027, capacity assessment for the position of doctor will be conducted.

From January 1, 2028, capacity assessment for the positions of physician, nurse, and midwife will be conducted.

The positions of medical technician, clinical nutritionist, outpatient paramedic and clinical psychologist will be implemented from 1.1.2029.

The Law on Medical Examination and Treatment stipulates that the National Medical Council is responsible for independently assessing the medical examination and treatment practice capacity of 8 positions, including: doctors, physicians, nurses, midwives, medical technicians, clinical nutritionists, outpatient emergency personnel and clinical psychologists. The organization of examinations and assessments of medical examination and treatment practice capacity will be implemented from January 1, 2027.

Professor Nguyen Viet Tien, Permanent Vice President of the National Medical Council, added that the national competency assessment exam contributes to standardizing and improving the quality of medical human resources. Regardless of the training conditions, practicing doctors must meet professional requirements according to national standards.

"The passing rate of medical students after the national competency assessment exam also helps evaluate the quality of medical training at schools. If any school has a low rate of medical students passing the exam, it needs to quickly improve the quality of training. Students who fail the national competency assessment exam will not be granted a practice certificate and will not be able to participate in medical examination and treatment," Professor Tien noted.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-2027-danh-gia-nang-luc-khi-cap-chung-chi-hanh-nghe-bac-si-185250626170100305.htm