Circular 25/2026/TT-BYT amend Circular 01/2013/TT-BYT, 32/2023/TT-BYT, 23/2024/TT-BYT, 42/2025/TT-BYT laboratory quality control, techniques in medical examination and treatment

CIRCULAR

Amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 01/2013/TT-BYT guiding the laboratory quality control at medical examination and treatment establishments; Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT detailing a number of articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; Circular No. 23/2024/TT-BYT promulgating the List of techniques in medical examination and treatment; and Circular No. 42/2025/TT-BYT prescribing health standards for railway vehicle operators

Pursuant to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to the Railway Law;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 96/2023/ND-CP detailing a number of articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 42/2025/ND-CP defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

At the request of the Director of the Department of Medical Services Administration;

The Minister of Health hereby promulgates the Circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 01/2013/TT-BYT guiding the laboratory quality control at medical examination and treatment establishments; Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT detailing a number of articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; Circular No. 23/2024/TT-BYT promulgating the List of techniques in medical examination and treatment; and Circular No. 42/2025/TT-BYT prescribing health standards for railway vehicle operators.

Article 1. To amend and supplement Circular No. 01/2013/TT-BYT guiding the laboratory quality control at medical examination and treatment facilities

To amend Clause 5, Article 5 as follows:

“5. Medical examination and treatment establishments are encouraged to participate in specialized external assessment programs under the assignment of the Ministry of Health concerning professional activities in laboratory standardization, and in internationally recognized external assessment programs.”

Article 2. To amend and supplement a number of articles of Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT detailing a number of articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment

1. To amend and supplement the notes to Appendix XII - List of Professional techniques in medical examination and treatment applicable to nursing practitioner, as follows:

“Techniques marked with ‘+’: First aid, emergency care, and nursing techniques may be performed and designated for performance by nurses at all educational qualification levels.

Techniques without a mark: Nursing techniques may be performed and/or designated for performance by nurses at all educational qualification levels.

Techniques marked with ‘*’:

a) From January 01, 2030, practitioners holding the professional title of nurse may perform such techniques only if they possess a qualification in the relevant specialty, or are nurses holding a university degree or higher who have received supplementary training in the relevant professional techniques.

b) From July 01, 2026, through December 31, 2029, based on the professional qualifications, competence, and experience of practitioners holding the professional title of nurse, the person responsible for professional and technical operations of the medical examination and treatment establishment shall decide in writing whether to authorize such practitioners to perform techniques marked with “*” and shall be responsible for such decision. The authorization to perform such techniques shall remain in effect through December 31, 2029, at the latest.”

2. To amend and supplement Article 34 as follows:

“Article 34. Health check-up records

1. Health check-up records and periodic health check-up records for children under 6 years of age shall conform to Form No. 01 in Appendix XXIV to this Circular.

2. Health check-up records and periodic health check-up records for persons from 6 years of age to under 18 years of age shall conform to Form No. 02 in Appendix XXIV to this Circular.

3. Health check-up records and periodic health check-up records for persons aged 18 years or older shall conform to Form No. 03 in Appendix XXIV to this Circular.

4. Mental health examination records shall conform to Form No. 04 in Appendix XXIV to this Circular.

5. For a person who has lost civil act capacity or has limited civil act capacity and requests a health check-up, other than periodic health check-up, the health check-up records shall comprise:

a) A health check-up certificate prescribed in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Article, as appropriate to the respective subject;

b) A written consent of the next of kin as prescribed in Clause 11, Article 2 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15.”

3. To amend and supplement Article 36 as follows:

“Article 36. Contents of health check-ups

1. Health check-ups and periodic health check-ups for children under 6 years of age shall be conducted in accordance with the Ministry of Health's professional guidelines.

2. Health check-ups and periodic health check-ups for persons from 6 years of age to under 18 years of age shall follow Form No. 02 in Appendix XXIV to this Circular.

3. Health check-ups and periodic health check-ups for persons aged 18 years or older shall follow Form No. 03 in Appendix XXIV to this Circular, of which:

a) For health classification examinations for school enrollment or employment purposes, para-clinical examinations shall be conducted in accordance with Section 1, Part III of Form No. 03 in Appendix XXIV;

b) For periodic health check-ups. para-clinical examinations shall be conducted only upon a doctor's indication.

4. Mental health examinations shall follow Form No. 04 in Appendix XXIV to this Circular.

5. Female employees undergoing periodic health check-ups shall receive obstetric and gynecological examinations in accordance with the list prescribed in Appendix XXV to this Circular.

6. All items specified in the applicable health check-up form to this Circular shall be completed. Health check-ups shall be performed by practitioners holding the professional title of doctor who possess a medical practicing certificate or practicing license. Based on the qualifications, certificates, training credentials, and health check-up competence of each practitioner, the person responsible for professional and technical operations of the medical examination and treatment establishment shall assign practitioners in writing to conduct health check-ups.

Where necessary, the practitioner conducting the health check-up shall refer the person undergoing the health check-up for specialist examination, multidisciplinary consultation, or prescribe para-clinical examinations to determine and classify his/her health status, or detect and manage diseases.

7. For health check-ups conducted upon request, only the requested specialties shall be examined and concluded, and no health classification shall be made.”

4. To replace Forms No. 01, No. 02 and No. 03 of Appendix XXIV with Forms No. 01, No. 02 and No. 03 to this Circular.

5. To add Form No. 04 in Appendix XXIV to this Circular.

6. To repeal Appendix XXVI.

Article 3. To amend and supplement a number of articles of Circular No. 23/2024/TT-BYT promulgating the List of techniques in medical examination and treatment

1. To amend and supplement Clause 1, Article 1 as follows:

“1. To promulgate together with this Circular:

a) The List of Professional techniques in medical examination and treatment prescribed in Appendix No. 01 to this Circular, which shall remain applicable until the end of December 31, 2027;

b) The List of Professional techniques in medical examination and treatment prescribed in Appendix No. 02 to this Circular, which shall apply from January 01, 2028.”

2. To amend and supplement Article 4 as follows:

“3. Medical examination and treatment establishments that were granted operation licenses by competent state agencies before the effective date of this Circular may continue performing the professional techniques already approved within their professional operations through December 31, 2027, without being required to carry out procedures for modification of their operation licenses.

4. The serial numbers of professional techniques by chapter under Circular No. 43/2013/TT-BYT and Circular No. 21/2017/TT-BYT, as listed in Column 2 of Appendix No. 01 to this Circular, shall continue to be used as the technique codes for the corresponding professional techniques in Appendix No. 01 (except for techniques bearing codes beginning with “BS_...”).” Where a professional technique has been classified as a surgery or procedures under Circular No. 50/2014/TT-BYT, such classification shall continue to apply through the technique code specified in Column 2 of Appendix No. 01 to this Circular.

For example:

- The technique Pleural fluid aspiration, numbered 10 in Chapter II - Internal medicine of Circular No. 43/2013/TT-BYT, is the same technique as Pleural fluid aspiration, numbered 10 in Chapter II - Internal medicine of Circular No. 50/2014/TT-BYT, and corresponds to technique code 2.10 in Column 2 of Appendix No. 01 to this Circular (its name may remain unchanged or may be changed, but it remains the same professional technique as prescribed in Circular No. 43/2013/TT-BYT).

- The technique Tattoo removal using ruby laser techniques, numbered 92 in Chapter V - Dermatology of Circular No. 21/2017/TT-BYT, is the same technique as Tattoo removal using ruby laser techniques, numbered 92 in Chapter V - Dermatology of Circular No. 50/2014/TT-BYT, and corresponds to technique code 5.92 in Column 2 of Appendix No. 01 to this Circular (its name may remain unchanged or may be changed, but it remains the same professional technique as prescribed in Circular No. 21/2017/TT-BYT).”

3. To amend and supplement Article on implementation organization as follows:

“Article 5. Implementation organization

1. The Department of Medical Services Administration shall:

a) Act as the focal point to direct and organize the implementation of this Circular, and provide professional guidance under the assigned functions and tasks;

b) Monitor and urge medical examination and treatment establishments under the management to prepare the necessary conditions for implementing the List of techniques in medical examination and treatment prescribed in Appendix No. 02 to this Circular from January 01, 2028.

2. The Agency of Traditional Medicine Administration, the Agency for Maternal and Child Health and the Department of Health Insurance shall direct, provide guidance, carry out inspection and urge the implementation of this Circular within the ambit of the assigned functions and tasks.

3. Departments of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities shall:

b) Direct, provide guidance, carry out inspection and urge medical examination and treatment establishments under their management to implement this Circular;

b) Monitor and urge medical examination and treatment establishments under the management to prepare the necessary conditions for implementing the List of techniques in medical examination and treatment prescribed in Appendix No. 02 to this Circular from January 01, 2028.

4. Medical examination and treatment establishments shall:

a) Ensure adequate facilities, personnel, and equipment for carrying out the list of techniques approved by the competent authority;

b) Prepare the necessary conditions for implementing the List of techniques in medical examination and treatment prescribed in Appendix No. 02 to this Circular from January 01, 2028.”

4. To remove the phrase “the Lits of techniques applicable through June 30, 2026” in Appendix No. 01.

5. To remove the phrase “the Lits of techniques applies from July 01, 2026” in Appendix No. 02.

Article 4. To amend and supplement Circular No. 42/2025/TT-BYT prescribing health standards for railway vehicle operators

To add Section “3. Eye examination” to Part II of Appendix No. 03.

Article 5. Transitional provisions

1. Received health check-up records for which the health check-up was completed before the effective date of this Circular, but the results have not yet been issued, shall continue to be processed in accordance with Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT.

2. Received health check-up records for which the health check-up has not yet been conducted before the effective date of this Circular, shall be processed in accordance with this Circular.

Article 6. Effect

1. This Circular takes effect from August 15, 2026, except for provisions in Clause 2 of this Article.

2. The provisions of Article 2 and Article 3 of this Circular take effect from July 01, 2026.

Any difficulties arising in the course of implementation shall be reported to the Ministry of Health (the Department of Medical Services Administration) for consideration and settlement./.