MINISTRY OF HEALTH
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SOCIALIST REPUBLICOF VIETNAM
Independence - Freedom– Happiness
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No: 647/QD-BYT
Hanoi, February 22, 2007
 
 
DECISION
ON PROMULGATION OF VOLUNTARY HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING (VCT) GUIDELINES
MINISTER OF HEALTH
 
- Pursuant to the articles 26 and 27 in the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control passed on June 29, 2006;
- Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 49/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2003 assigning roles, responsibilities, authorities and organizational structures for the Ministry of Health;
- At the proposal of the Director General of Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC),
DECIIDES
Article 1. To promulgate a Voluntary HIV Counseling Testing (VCT) Guidelines at this decision.
Article 2. This decision takes effective from the signing and releasing date.
Article 3. Chief of Cabinet, Chief Inspector, VAAC Director General, Directors of Departments of the Ministry of Health, chief officers of agencies and organizations belonging to the Ministry of Health, Directors of Provincial Health Services, health chief officers at all other Ministries are responsible for the implementation of this decision.
 
 
Copies to:
- The list in the article 3 (signed and sealed)
- Minister of Health Trần Thị Trung Chiến (as a report)
- Deputy Ministers of Health (for information)
- Archives at MOH Office, Legislation and VAAC
FOR THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
DEPUTY MINISTER



Trinh Quan Huan
 
VOLUNTARY HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING (VCT) GUIDELINES
(Promulgated at the Decision No. 647/QĐ-BYT dated on February 22, 2007 by the Minister of Health)
Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISION
Article 1. Scope
These guidelines stipulate contents, operation procedures for VCT services and standards for any VCT clinics.
Article 2. To whom it applies
These guidelines shall apply to all health facilities/settings, all those who provide VCT services and testing facilities as well regardless of public or private settings. These guidelines are not applicable to any types of compulsory HIV testing stated by the article No. 28 in the law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
Article 3. Definitions
1. HIV/AIDS counseling (referred as counseling herein) is a process of exchange and provision with necessary HIV/AIDS knowledge and information between counselors and counselees in order to help counselees make their own informed decisions on problems related to HIV prevention, care and treatment.