The circular, which will take effect on October 15, applies to domestic and foreign organizations and individuals performing charity medical activities in Vietnam, except for operations held by the Ministry of Defense and the Red Cross.

Compared to the previous regulations, the new one - circular 30 – sets clearer conditions on the operation of medical healthcare groups and clinics providing charity medical activities.

Specifically, a medical humanitarian delegation is a group of Vietnamese or foreign health workers gathered by domestic or foreign individuals and organizations to provide humanitarian medical care for the people. If the delegation offers free medical services at a clinic, this medical facility must be licensed under the provisions of the Law on Medical Treatment.

If the delegation does not implement the services at a clinic, this place must have sufficient conditions for medical treatment, such as the reception room, specialized consulting rooms or surgery room and infection control conditions.

The person who is responsible for the technical expertise of the delegation must be a doctor with a practicing certificate issued by the Ministry or Department of Health. The other members must also have a practicing certificate.

Vietnamese and foreign individuals who provide humanitarian medical services must also ensure full compliance with the above conditions. The individual must have a practicing certificate issued by the Ministry of Health, Department of Health or practicing certificate recognized by the government.

The delegation must have the permission of the local authorities where they supply the charity medical services.

In addition, within 10 working days from the date of the completion of the humanitarian medical program, the organizer must submit a report to the Ministry of Health or the Department of Health that licences the program.

The Health Care Administration is responsible for directing, guiding, inspecting and examining the implementation of this circular on a national scale.

Recently in Nha Trang city (Khanh Hoa province), three babies died after charity surgeries. The police are investigating the incident. The case sparked debate about the legality of OSCA, the organizer of this humanitarian surgery program.

The Hanoi Health Department said OSCA was not licensed to provide health care activities. This organization was licenced by the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology.