Enact measures to enhance the detection and treatment of individuals afflicted with Covid-19

On May 19th, the Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department (Ministry of Health) issued Official Dispatch No. 708/KCB-NV regarding the request to strengthen the detection and treatment of Covid-19 patients.

According to the Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department, the global Covid-19 epidemic situation is currently trending upwards in several countries, such as Brazil, the United Kingdom, Thailand, etc. To proactively respond to the COVID-19 epidemic situation, the Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department requests the Directors of hospitals and medical facilities with inpatient beds under the Ministry of Health, the Directors of Health Departments of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities, and the Heads of Health Departments of Ministries and sectors to urgently implement the following measures:

1. Review and update the plan for receiving and treating COVID-19 patients at the provincial level and at medical examination and treatment establishments in accordance with the epidemic situation forecast, in order to avoid a passive or unprepared response.
2. Ensure readiness of facilities, isolation areas, medical equipment, and medical supplies to organize the reception, isolation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients, and to implement infection control measures.
3. Strengthen infection prevention measures, especially those against respiratory transmission, to minimize the spread of the epidemic within medical examination and treatment establishments. Implement solutions to ensure the safety of patients in high-risk groups (such as pregnant women, individuals with underlying conditions, severe illnesses, the elderly, etc.), intensive care units, cardiology, hemodialysis, surgery departments, etc. Simultaneously, enhance environmental sanitation, ward hygiene, and arrange departments conveniently and appropriately according to the epidemic situation, ensuring a green, clean and aesthetically pleasing environment.
4. Strictly comply with the regulations on reporting cases as stipulated in Circular No. 54/2015/TT-BYT dated December 28, 2015, of the Minister of Health.