Work permit medical check

    Hello everyone,
I hope this message finds you well.

I'm HIV positive. I was accepted as an English teacher in Vietnam, and I will be traveling next month.

I would like to know if my medical condition will affect my work permit.

Thanks in advance.
   

    -@Jack2024

Ask your prospective employer.

@Jack2024

The health checkup for working permit doesn't check the diseases.

At least at Columbia hospital, but this hospital has closed at HCMC now, maybe it depends on hospitals.

    Hello everyone,
I hope this message finds you well.

I'm HIV positive. I was accepted as an English teacher in Vietnam, and I will be traveling next month.

I would like to know if my medical condition will affect my work permit.

Thanks in advance.
        -@Jack2024

You would do well to use our "Search" function, here.

There are only a handful of accredited hospitals on the government's official list able to perform health checks for a work permit for foreigners, Van Hanh Hospital in Q10, not far from the city, is the one I've always used. They're very efficient and good value for money.

No one on this forum can say for sure exactly what they check (other than what is required for the work permit) but I've always assumed that they check for things like hepatitis, HIV, AIDS, STD's, and a few other things, because it's the only chance the authorities have to screen people coming into the country. I would've thought that they could also pick up some medications in the same way that they can pick up illegal drugs (and weed) because they do thorough blood and urine tests. I know Australia checks for everything and if one turns up positive on some of the tests there's no way that they'll allow someone to stay once their visa has expired. The availability of certain medications is non existent here also, foreigners do not have the subsidies the locals have, and health insurance would also be problematic with existing medical conditions. Another aspect is a police clearance certificate. You should get one prior to departing from your current country of abode. You can't get one here until you've been in Vietnam for more than six months. Once you're in HCMC if you need any documents translated from English to Viet, or visa versa, go to 235 Duong Tran Quang Khai, in district 1. Vietnam has a low rate of HIV/AIDS due to several factors unlike Cambodia which has worrying rates of infection.

Firstly, sorry to hear abt your condition, hope you're doing well!

I can't say this for sure, and I'm also not HIV positive and also do not enjoy sustances. But when speaking of narcotics, I know of more than one case where a heavy, daily weed smoker and another guy who regularly uses all sorts of party gear on the weekends, ranging from Thai pills to ketamin, coke and what have you. They've all been passing the tests for years, simply "lied" on the form " have or do you use...." AW= NO,

I assume it would be the same with HIV, if you tick YES, you might be done, while if you unintentionally by mistake wrongly ticket NO, you'll pass.

The blood and other fluid tests do not seem to include more than a basic list or profile of common markers.

Simply because specific tests cannot be conducted when considering the fee charged for a medical test vs let's say an HIV or THC test.

Besides, if you're in a hurry or there aren't many people doing the test at the same time, like during covid, I've had my results back before tjey had the x-ray's done and left with the full test results right after Icompleted the test, less than 2hrs. So I doubt they run HIV tests.

Up to you, but in my opinion, I would not have any hesitation to tick NO, because your medical condition is not readon to be denied or be discriminated from working anywhere. There's too many other buggs flowting around that I feel are just as dangerous, if not even posing a higher risk, if one can even say so.

As long as you're a good bloke and know how to behave normal, you have and should be allowed to enjoy all the rights like everyone else.!

Just my opinion!

There are only a handful of accredited hospitals on the government's official list able to perform health checks for a work permit for foreigners, Van Hanh Hospital in Q10, not far from the city, is the one I've always used. They're very efficient and good value for money.

There are, in fact, many establishments licensed to provide health checkups for foreigners for work permit application in Ho Chi Minh.

In the whole of Vietnam, there are well over one hundred.

No one on this forum can say for sure exactly what they check (other than what is required for the work permit) but I've always assumed that they check for things like hepatitis, HIV, AIDS, STD's, and a few other things, because it's the only chance the authorities have to screen people coming into the country.

Testing for HIV is not conducted as a standard when applying for a work permit in Vietnam.

See "Health check-up for work permit: HIV testing result is required?" HIV testing is done on a voluntary basis.

Testing for STDs is not required to be granted a fit for work/work permit.

I would've thought that they could also pick up some medications in the same way that they can pick up illegal drugs (and weed) because they do thorough blood and urine tests.

Take a look, here (Link) for a PDF of EMPLOYMENT MANUAL from the law offices of Russin & Vecchi, HCMC.

Specifically...

Section 17: Drug and alcohol testing, police and criminal background checks and general medical testing

"The employer is allowed to conduct drug and alcohol testing, police and criminal background checks, and general medical testing of its employees. Although it is not a common practice, an employer can include certain tests as part of pre-employment health checks. (additional costs for this testing would be borne by the employer)

In a labor contract or in its ILRs, the employer may also require that an employee be tested or investigated during the course of his employment. However, mentioning such a requirement is not enough. In order to take action against an employee who abuses drugs or alcohol or who has committed a criminal offense, carefully worded ILRs are required.

According to Article 126 of the Labor Code 2012, an employee who uses drugs at the workplace may be dismissed as a form of discipline."

Though this article from Tuoi Tre News is a bit dated, reports are that the health check procedure is essentially the same.

I know Australia checks for everything and if one turns up positive on some of the tests there's no way that they'll allow someone to stay once their visa has expired.

Not applicable to Vietnam.

The availability of certain medications is non existent here also, foreigners do not have the subsidies the locals have, and health insurance would also be problematic with existing medical conditions.

There are very few medications which are not available in Vietnam, and the costs for all medications here are remarkably low.

Vietnam has a low rate of HIV/AIDS due to several factors unlike Cambodia which has worrying rates of infection. - @Tediuki

Vietnam has a very high prevalence of HIV infection. Vietnam's HIV infection rate is approximately 3 times that of Cambodia. See here.

Which hospital would you recommend for the medical check in Saigon?I am a bit confused about what is being checked. Asked also my employer beforehand to know, however they said they check only what the Vietnamese government is asking for...Would be great to get a recommendation.Thanks! - @Saigon15

Hello Saigon15, and welcome to the expat.com Vietnam forum.

I'm sorry I can't make any medical test location recommendations. Have you taken a look through our "Search" function, here for reports from fellow members of their experience at different locations?

Is there something specific the medical check might reveal which concerns you?