The Ministry of Health is currently seeking public feedback on a draft Circular outlining the authority and procedures for specialized medical inspections, in accordance with Decree No. 217/2025/NĐ-CP. The draft specifies that the Minister of Health holds supreme authority, while Department Directors manage inspections within their delegated scope, and local authorities exercise power as regulated by the Government.
The inspection process is meticulously structured from planning to execution. Thematic inspection plans must align with socio-economic development goals and be shared with the Government Inspectorate to prevent overlapping. Each inspection is limited to 15 days, with a potential 7-day extension for complex cases. Notably, the draft introduces flexibility by allowing both in-person and online inspections and mandates advance notice to inspected entities, except for unannounced visits triggered by suspected legal violations.
Most significantly, the proposal presents three options for defining the scope of inspections: (1) Detailing 11 specific areas such as clinical treatment, pharmaceuticals, food safety, and medical infrastructure; (2) Using a general definition based on the Ministry’s state management scope; or (3) Removing specific scope descriptions from this Circular. Additionally, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying the monitoring of the ban on electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products as per the National Assembly’s Resolution.