Can a person without a degree in pharmacy be able to retail narcotic drugs in Vietnam?

Can a person without a degree in pharmacy be able to retail narcotic drugs in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 8, Article 44 of Decree 54/2017/ND-CP stipulating personnel of traders of controlled drugs as follows:

8. Personnel of a retailer of narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs or precursors:

a) The shopkeeper shall sells narcotic drugs have at least a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy;

b) The shopkeeper that sells psychotropic drugs or precursors shall have at least an associate degree in pharmacy.

Thus, based on the above regulations, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in Vietnam.

What are penalties for retailer of narcotic drugs without professional qualifications in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 59 of Decree 117/2020/ND-CP providing for violations against regulations on retailing of drugs and herbal ingredients as follows:

1. A fine ranging from VND 1.000.000 VND 3.000.000 shall be imposed for commission of one of the following violations:

a) Failing to meet quality standards as prescribed by competent authorities when selling herbal ingredients which have been preliminarily processed;

b) A pharmacist who directly engages in the drug retailing fails to possess a professional qualifications as prescribed by law;

c) Failing to use records or computers for managing the warehousing, dispatching, inventory, batch number, expiry date, origin of drugs and other relevant information as prescribed by law;

d) Trading drug in violation of quality regulations at level 3;

dd) Failing to specify the drug name, content and expiry date when retailing drugs without secondary packages; failing to specify the dose and usage when selling drugs without a prescription;

e) Failing to retain all documents about each batch/shipment of drugs/ pharmaceutical starting materials for a period prescribed by law;

g) Failing to cooperate or obstructing the quality inspection agency in taking samples of drugs or pharmaceutical starting materials to serve quality inspection tasks.

According to Clause 5, Article 4 of Decree 117/2020/ND-CP, stipulates:

5. The fines prescribed in Chapter II hereof are imposed on violating individuals. The fine imposed on an organization is twice as much as that imposed on an individual for the same administrative violation.

Thus, according to the above provisions, in case a pharmacist who directly engages in the drug retailing as prescribed by law in Vietnam, he or she may be administratively sanctioned with a fine of from 1 - 3 million VND.

Best Regards!