Does a pharmacy practice license in Vietnam expire after 3 years?

Does a pharmacy practice license expire after 3 years?

Clause 1, Article 29 of the Law on Pharmacy 2016 stipulates the management of pharmacy practice certificates as follows:

A person shall be issued with only one pharmacy practice certificate. The pharmacy practice certificate shall specify the scope of practice within which the certificate holder is allowed to practice. A pharmacy practice certificate does not have an expiration date and is recognized nationwide.

Thus, the pharmacy practice certificate does not have a regulation on the validity period. Therefore, certificates that have been issued for more than three years can still be used. Unless otherwise:

- Its holder is dead or missing under a court’s decision

- Its holder fails to have the certificate of completion of training program and refresher program in pharmacy within 03 years from the issuance date of the pharmacy practice certificate or the issuance date of the latest certificate of completion of training program and refresher program in pharmacy.

Will the pharmacy practice certificate be revoked if the individual or business fails to notify the Department of Health?

According to Article 28 of the Law on Pharmacy 2016, cases in which the pharmacy practice certificate is revoked include:

1. The pharmacy practice certificate is issued ultra vires.

2. The holder of the pharmacy practice certificate requests its revocation.

3. The pharmacy practice certificate is incorrect because of the issuing authority.

4. The application for the pharmacy practice certificate contains counterfeit documents.

5. A person has more than one pharmacy practice certificate.

6. The holder of a pharmacy practice certificate rents it, lends it, leases it, borrows it or allows another person to use it.

7. A person issued with the pharmacy practice certificate fails to satisfy any of the conditions for issuance of the pharmacy practice certificate specified in Article 13 or Clause 2 Article 14 hereof.

8. A person issued with the pharmacy practice certificate fails to practice for 12 consecutive months.

9. A pharmacy practitioner does not have the certificate of completion of training program and refresher program in pharmacy within 03 years from the issuance date of the pharmacy practice certificate or the issuance date of the latest certificate of completion of training program and refresher program in pharmacy.

10. The certificate holder violates the code of ethics for pharmacy practitioners and causes harm to other people’s health or life.

11. A person has had his/her pharmacy practice certificate revoked more than once for the same violation.

And in Circular 07/2018/TT-BYT, regulations on notification of the list of practitioners who have pharmacy practice certificates shall be sent to the competent authority are as follows:

Within 30 (thirty) days from the date starting the business or having changes of holders of pharmacy practice certificates, the pharmacy business establishment shall notify the Department of Health of province or central-affiliated city (hereinafter referred to as Department of Health) about the list of these holders using form No. 06 in Appendix I hereto, and also attach the file or update online as guided by Department of Health.

Thus, according to regulations, the pharmacy must be responsible for notifying the competent authority of the list of practitioners who have pharmacy practice certificates. This notification is to control the practice of the certificate holder.

Besides, in our opinion, if the pharmacy does not declare that you have a pharmacy practice certificate, the Department of Health may not know if you are operating or not. Therefore, the information may not be on record, and the certificates may be revoked.

However, 11 cases of certificate revocation don't mention your problem. Therefore, if this is the case, you should contact the Department of Health where you are working for detailed support on this issue.

Best regards!