The Ministry of Health recently requested local authorities to correct medical facilities that advertised the treatment of homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality.  

In a document sent to health departments of provinces and cities last week, the Ministry of Health said it had received information that some medical facilities and doctors claimed to be able to ‘cure homosexuality.’

The health ministry quoted the American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization as affirming that homosexuality is not a disease, thus it cannot be cured, does not need to be cured, and cannot be changed.

On May 17, 1990, WHO officially removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses.

Homosexuality has been neither considered a disease nor included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) since 1994.

WHO defines homosexuality as a sexual orientation in which people are attracted to other people of the same sex, stressing that it is not a disease.

Homosexuality and transsexuality were removed by WHO from the list of mental and behavioral disorders in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in 1990 and 2019, respectively.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health requested the leaders of units to direct medical examination and treatment facilities under their management to conduct necessary awareness campaigns so that doctors, medical staff, and residents properly understand homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality.  

Healthcare facilities must provide medical examination and treatment for homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people with equality and respect, and must not discriminate against these individuals.

Medical facilities must not consider homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality as a disease or provide any methods to intervene or treat these people because of their sexual orientation.

Experts with knowledge of gender identity may offer psychological support for these individuals if necessary.

The health ministry asked relevant agencies to conduct regular inspection of medical facilities to make sure that they provide medical examination and treatment in accordance with the provisions of the law.

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