New regulations on health examination for drivers
The draft circular on health standards for drivers, just released by the Ministry of Health on the morning of December 30, has removed controversial regulations such as flat-chested people not being allowed to drive, and added criteria on health status, physical strength, and drug and alcohol use.
Mr. Le Tuan Dong, Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) said that the Draft Joint Circular on health standards for drivers (motorbikes, rickshaws, cars) includes 5 chapters with 21 articles; regulating health examination standards and conditions of medical facilities for health examination.
This draft is not only applicable to Vietnamese people but also to foreigners studying, working and living in Vietnam. At the same time, the standards are divided into 3 groups: class A1, class B1 and class A2-A4, B2, C, D, E, FB3, FC, FD, EF.
Health standards for new drivers are divided into 9 specialties: psychiatry, neurology, eyes, ears-nose-throat, musculoskeletal, respiratory, endocrine, drugs and other psychotropic substances.
For example, people with impaired perception of three basic colors: red, yellow, green; paralysis of one or more limbs, use of drugs... are not qualified to drive.
A person who has lost or amputated a hand or a foot and is unable to function even with assistive devices, and has binocular distance vision (without/with correction by glasses) below 4/10 is not qualified to drive a motorbike.
In addition, people with hunchback, scoliosis or excessive lordosis; bronchial asthma, pseudoarthrosis, amputation or loss of function of the first finger, or 2 of the remaining 3 fingers of a hand... are also not qualified to drive class A2-A4, B2, C, D...
According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen, the development and promulgation of health criteria for drivers is a very complicated and sensitive issue, affecting most of the population in society, so the Ministry of Health is implementing it step by step, thoughtfully and carefully. At the same time, clearly defining the responsibilities of medical staff performing health examinations for drivers; drivers; responsibilities of hospitals... The Ministry of Health will try to work with the Ministry of Transport to issue this circular as soon as possible.
Mr. Luong Ngoc Khue - Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management said that currently, there are many cases of incomplete health examinations mixed with the sale of fake health certificates. Therefore, the Ministry of Health requires medical examination and treatment facilities to strictly implement health examinations. This is a right, people should demand quality examinations from doctors, following professional procedures. The Ministry also directs and requires close inspection of the issuance of health certificates.
Previously, the Ministry of Justice had "blown the whistle" on Decision 33 on promulgating health standards for drivers of motor vehicles and Decision 34/2008 on promulgating health standards for people with disabilities driving motorbikes and three-wheeled vehicles issued by the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Justice believes that the introduction of too many standards (83 standards), especially standards on height, weight, chest circumference and some other standards that are not suitable to reality, has limited the constitutional rights of citizens in using assets and means of transportation; creating unnecessary discrimination against some citizens./.
According to Vietnam+
