The Ministry of Health Announces New Normalization Measures. According to the latest updates, the Ministry of Health has released revised measures for normalization in response to the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the latest measures, the directive that prevented health personnel from leaving their duties or resigning during the Covid-19 outbreak has been revoked as of today. Accordingly, the Ministry has updated rules concerning patient visits, medical reports for medications, and protections for healthcare staff as the country moves into the normalization phase of the coronavirus outbreak.
The General Directorate of Health Services of the Ministry of Health has sent a circular to the governors of all 81 provinces and to all healthcare institutions outlining the Covid-19 Normalization Process and the measures to be followed. The letter recalls that from the moment the pandemic was detected, the Ministry and the Scientific Committee recommended many interventions to manage the risk to public health and public order—measures designed to ensure social isolation, maintain social distancing, and control the rate of spread. Within this framework, some restrictions applied in healthcare institutions have been partially relaxed while others have been fully revised. The formal restriction on patient visits has been lifted.
Children and Newborns May Be Visited Once Per Day
Under the new rules governing patient visits and caregiver services, visits outside regular visiting hours will be limited to one person at a time, and only to meet the basic needs of the hospitalized patient. Everyone inside the healthcare facility must wear a mask during that period. Visits to intensive care and palliative care units will not be permitted.
Separately, with adherence to the Ministry’s specific protocols, visitors will be allowed once daily for patients in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units who are hospitalized for reasons other than Covid-19. Visits to pediatric and neonatal intensive care patients diagnosed with Covid-19 will be permitted only when all required precautions are taken and with medical approval. Except in cases where the patient requires assistance, caregivers will generally not be admitted.
Administrative Leave Reports for Chronic Illness Remain Valid Until Further Notice
Changes to provisions regarding outpatient clinics and medical reports specify that outpatient services will be provided in accordance with the “Guide for Working in Health Institutions During Normalization in the Covid-19 Pandemic,” and except for emergencies, citizens will be directed to book appointments through the central appointment system (MHRS). For individuals aged 18–65 whose documents expire between 1 January 2020 and 8 June 2020, reports related to chronic illnesses, disability, and ongoing needs for medications, medical supplies, or incontinence products will begin to be reissued. Reports scheduled to be issued from 8 June through 7 August 2020 require appointment requests to be made via MHRS. Reports for persons under 18, over 65, and those granted administrative leave due to chronic illness will remain valid until further notice.
Report Renewal Procedures to Resume
Renewal procedures for time-limited medical reports that require follow-up examinations, including single-physician and medical board reports requested for driver’s licenses, will resume starting 1 February 2020. In civil service recruitments where a medical board report is not mandatory, a single-physician report will be issued; where a board report is required, applicants may begin applying to health institutions as of today.
Military draft examination reports will continue to be issued by family physicians. Appeals for all types of medical reports can be submitted starting today. Any reports that were initiated on 1 March 2020 but not completed will be finalized within 60 days from today.
Healthcare Personnel May Resign If They Choose
The directive that had prevented healthcare personnel from resigning during the Covid-19 outbreak has been repealed. Following the revocation of that instruction, healthcare workers whose resignations had been suspended are now permitted to leave their positions or resign as of today. Additionally, applications for Medical Board Reports related to obtaining or renewing firearm possession and carrying permits have resumed as of today.