Organization and operation of the Advisory Council for the issuance of pharmacy practice certificates in Vietnam

Organization and operation of the Advisory Council for the issuance of pharmacy practice certificates in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Authority to establish Advisory Council for the issuance of pharmacy practice certificates in Vietnam

- Minister of Health makes a decision to establish the Advisory Council for issuance of pharmacy practice certificate requiring an examination (hereinafter referred to as Ministry of Health's Advisory Council for issuance of pharmacy practice certificate)

- The director of the Department of Health makes a decision to establish the Advisory Council for issuance of pharmacy practice certificate requiring an application (hereinafter referred to as Department of Health's Advisory Council for issuance of pharmacy practice certificate)

(Article 26 of Circular 07/2018/TT-BYT)

2. Members of the Advisory Council for the issuance of pharmacy practice certificates in Vietnam

- The Department of Health’s Advisory Council shall be composed of 05 (five) members include:

+ Chairperson;

+ Deputy Chairperson;

+ Secretary;

+ Other members, to be specific: Head of Department of Health, senior representatives from the following agencies: related departments, pharmacy association, regulatory agency of education, educational institution and public college as stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article, and other cadres from related units of the Ministry of Health.

- The Ministry of Health’s Advisory Council for issuance of pharmacy practice certificate shall be composed of 05 (five) members include:

+ Chairperson,

+ Deputy Chairperson,

+ Secretary

+ Other members, to be specific: Head of Ministry of Health, Head of Drug Administration, Head of Traditional Medicine Administration for issuing certificates of private practice of traditional medicine, Head of Department of Science and Technology and Training, Head of Department of Legal Affairs, representatives from the following agencies: pharmacy association, regulatory agency of education, educational institution and public college as stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article and other cadres from related units of the Ministry of Health.

- In case where the practitioner’s title and profession are not confirmed and written on the certificate as stipulated in Article 17, Decree No. 54/2017/ND-CP, the Advisory Council shall also include representatives from the following agencies: regulatory agency of education, higher educational institution and public college.

- In case where the Advisory Council’s members are representatives of units and organizations, they shall be the heads of these units and organizations or nominated by them.

(Article 27 of Circular 07/2018/TT-BYT)

3. Operation of the Advisory Council for issuance of pharmacy practice certificate in Vietnam

- The Advisory Council has the responsibility to develop its operation regulation and report it to the Minister of Health or the Director of Department of Health to approve and implement after that.

- The Advisory Council has the responsibility to advise the issuing authority in issuing, replacing, and revoking the pharmacy practice certificate.

(Article 28 of Circular 07/2018/TT-BYT)

4. Positions requiring pharmacy practice certificates in Vietnam 

Positions requiring pharmacy practice certificates include:

- The chief pharmacist of a pharmacy business establishment.

- The person in charge of quality assurance of a facility manufacturing drugs or medicinal ingredients.

- The person in charge of clinical pharmacology of a health facility.

(Article 11 of the Law on Pharmacy 2016)

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE