Thông tư 09/2021/TT-BYT

CIRCULAR

PROCEDURES, TIME, NUMBER OF HIV TESTS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN; CARE AND TREATMENT FOR WOMEN INFECTED WITH HIV DURING PREGNANCY, GIVING BIRTH, BREASTFEEDING, AND MEASURES FOR REDUCING HIV TRANSMISSION FROM MOTHER TO CHILD

Pursuant to Law on Prevention and Control of Infection of Virus causing Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome for humans (HIV/AIDS) No. 64/2006/QH11 dated June 29, 2006; Law on amendment to Law on Prevention and Control of Infection of Virus causing Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome for humans (HIV/AIDS) No. 71/2020/QH14 dated November 16, 2020;

Pursuant to Decree No. 75/2017/ND-CP dated June 20, 2017 of Government on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministry of Health;

At request of Director of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department - Ministry of Health;

Minister of Health promulgates Circular on procedures, time, number of HIV tests for pregnant women; care and treatment for women infected with HIV during pregnancy, giving birth, breastfeeding, and measures for reducing HIV transmission from mother to child.

Article 1. Scope

This Circular prescribes procedures, time, number of HIV tests for pregnant women covered by healthcare insurance fund, state budget; care and treatment for women infected with HIV during pregnancy, giving birth, breastfeeding, and measures for reducing HIV transmission from mother to child

Article 2. Regulated entities

This Circular applies to medical examination and treatment establishments and other medical facilities providing medical services for pregnant women, mothers, children, and other relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 3. HIV testing procedures for pregnant women

HIV testing procedures for pregnant women shall conform to Circular No. 01/2015/TT-BYT dated February 27, 2015 of Minister of Health, specialized guidelines of Ministry of Health and:

1. Pre-HIV testing consulting for pregnant women regarding transmission of HIV, necessity of acknowledging HIV infection, risk of infecting children with HIV and benefits of early treatment with antiretroviral drugs in reducing HIV infection from mother to child.

2. HIV test recommendations for pregnant women according to Article 4 hereof.

3. HIV testing techniques for pregnant women.

4. Return of HIV test results for pregnant women. For pregnant women tested with HIV while going into labor or giving birth, HIV test results shall be returned to medical facilities assigned to test HIV as soon as possible and no longer than 6 hours from the time of receiving specimen.

5. Post-HIV test consulting and processing for pregnant women:

a) In case a pregnant woman is tested positive for HIV: Advise regarding treatment to prevent transmission from mother to child and transfer to treatment facilities that employ antiretroviral drugs;

b) In case a pregnant woman are tested for HIV while going into labor or giving birth, advice regarding treatment to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child by using antiretroviral drugs on both mother and child, and transfer blood sample for HIV test immediately. In case HIV test result of the mother is unidentified, continue to use antiretroviral drugs for both mother and child until test result is determined; in case HIV test result of the mother is negative, cease treatment with antiretroviral drugs;

c) In case a pregnant woman is tested negative for HIV but is at high risk of contracting HIV: Advise regarding HIV prevention and transfer the pregnant woman to facilities providing HIV prevention service.

Article 4. Time and number of HIV tests for pregnant women

Pregnant women who are unaware of their HIV infection and agree to conduct HIV tests shall be designated to partake HIV test during periodic antenatal care or when going into labor or giving birth according to national guidelines on reproductive healthcare for pregnant women of Ministry of Health, to be specific:

1. Conduct the first HIV test as soon as possible.

2. Conduct the second HIV test for cases with high risk of infection according to Clause 6 Article 2 of Law No. 64/2006/QH11 as follows:

a) Having high risk within 3 months prior to the first HIV test;

b) Having high risk after receiving the first HIV test.

Article 5. Care and treatment for women infected with HIV during pregnancy, giving birth, breastfeeding, and measures for reducing HIV transmission from mother to child

1. Care and treatment for women infected with HIV during pregnancy shall conform to specialized guidelines on HIV/AIDS treatment and care of Ministry of Health.

2. Measures for reducing HIV transmission from mother to child shall conform to specialized guidelines of Ministry of Health on preventing HIV transmission from mother to child.

Article 6. Entry into force

This Circular comes into force from August 15, 2021.

Article 7. Terms of reference

In case documents referred to in this Circular are replaced or revised, the new versions shall prevail.

Article 8. Responsibility for implementation

1. HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department shall take charge and cooperate with entities affiliated to ministries to implement and inspect implementation of this Circular on a nationwide scale.

2. Departments of Health of provinces and central-affiliated cities are responsible for directing, guiding organizations to implement and inspect implementation of this Circular within their competence.

3. Chief of Ministry Office, Chief Inspector of Ministry, Director of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department, Directors, Directors General, General Directors affiliated to Ministry Inspectorate, heads of agencies and entities affiliated to the Ministry, directors of Departments of Health of provinces and central-affiliated cities, heads of medical agencies of ministries, and relevant organizations, individuals are responsible for implementation of this Circular.

Difficulties that arise during the implementation of this Circular should be reported to the Ministry of Health (HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department) for consideration and solution./.