Ho Chi Minh City to tighten technical oversight of dental clinics

On Wednesday, Tang Chi Thuong, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, said that dental services in the city have expanded significantly in recent years.

Thousands of dental clinics are now operating, and advanced techniques such as dental implants, bone grafting, sinus lift procedures, and modern dental restorations are being widely implemented.

While residents benefit from access to advanced treatments locally, many invasive procedures still carry potential risks if facilities lack qualified personnel, adequate equipment, or standardized clinical procedures.

Previously, under Circular 07 issued by the Ministry of Health, surgical techniques classified as Category I or special-category procedures had to undergo a pilot phase before being officially implemented when first introduced at a medical facility.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health had also applied this mechanism to several specialized dental procedures.

Since the 2023 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment came into effect, 'new techniques' are defined as techniques implemented for the first time in Vietnam.

As a result, it is no longer mandatory for individual facilities to conduct pilot programs when introducing these techniques for the first time.

Facilities that began pilot programs under the previous regulations will continue until they reach the required number of cases and must then submit reports for evaluation before receiving approval for official implementation.

The Department of Health has issued guidelines and organized training sessions for medical facilities, particularly dental and maxillofacial clinics, to ensure compliance with regulations and patient safety.

According to leaders of the city’s health sector, tightening technical oversight is not intended to create obstacles for medical facilities, but rather to ensure professional standards, transparency, and safety in medical examination and treatment.

The Department of Health encourages healthcare providers to proactively enhance their capabilities, update and apply new techniques, and strictly comply with legal regulations.