Not revoking the pharmacy practice certificate for cases where a pharmacy is not opened in Vietnam

Is the pharmacy practice certificate revoked if people in Vietnam do not establish pharmacies?

Pursuant to Article 28 of the Law on Pharmacy in 2016 stipulating cases in which the pharmacy practice certificate is revoked as follows:

- ...

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

- 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.

Therefore, if a person who holds pharmacy practice certificate but does not open a pharmacy or drug counter, and he/she still works in a field related to pharmaceuticals (such as selling drugs...), his/her certificate will not be revoked. However, if there is no practice in the pharmaceutical field for a continuous period of 12 months, his/her pharmacy practice certificate will be revoked.

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What are the requirements for obtaining a pharmacy practice certificate in Vietnam?

Legal basis: Law on Pharmacy in 2016; Decree 54/2017/ND-CP and Circular 277/2016/TT-BTC

The pharmacy practice certificate is a document issued by the competent state management authority to individuals who meet the conditions for practicing according to regulations. Pharmacy is a profession directly related to human life. Because it is a very "sensitive" profession, practitioners need to have a certificate to prove their competence.

1. Conditions for issuance of a pharmacy practice certificate

To be issued with a pharmacy practice certificate, a person must:

1. Has any qualifications issued or recognized in Vietnam suitable for his/her position and the pharmacy business establishment. Such qualifications include:

a) Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy (hereinafter referred to as pharmacist degree);

b) Bachelor’s degree in general medicine;

c) Bachelor’s degree in traditional medicine or traditional pharmacy;

d) Bachelor’s degree in biology;

dd) Bachelor’s degree in chemistry;

e) College degree in pharmacy;

g) Associate degree in pharmacy;

h) College degree or associate degree in medicine;

i) Associate degree in traditional medicine or traditional pharmacy;

k) Basic diploma in pharmacy;

l) Certificate of traditional physician or pharmacist, certificate of hereditary remedy, or other traditional medicine qualifications issued before the effective date of this Law.

The products qualifications specified in Point 1 of this Clause required as a condition shall be specified by the Ministry of Health according to socio-economic development, the people’s need for medical examination and treatment in each area and each period.

2. Has served an apprenticeship at a pharmacy business establishment, the pharmacy of a health facility, a pharmacy training school, a pharmacy research institute, a facility specialized in testing drugs and medicinal ingredients, a pharmacy authority, or a representative office in Vietnam of a foreign trader engaged in pharmacy (hereinafter referred to as pharmacy establishment); a health facility suitable for the practitioner’s expertise as follows:

a) For a person whose pharmacy practice certificate is revoked as prescribed in Clause 9 Article 28 hereof, the apprenticeship is not required. However, he/she must take a refresher course in pharmacy;

b) For a person having a postgraduate degree suitable for the scope of practice, the apprenticeship duration may be shortened as prescribed by the Government;

c) For a person having any of the qualifications specified in Point l Clause 1 Article 13 hereof, the apprenticeship duration shall be specified by the Minister of Health.

3. Has a certificate of suitable health for pharmacy practice issued by a competent health facility.

4. Not:

a) be facing a criminal prosecution, serving a court’s sentence or ruling; be suspended from practice or doing works related to pharmacy under the court’s sentence or ruling;

b) have limited legal capacity.

5. Any person who wishes to take an examination to obtain a pharmacy practice certificate must fully satisfy the conditions specified in this Article.

Qualifications and practical experience requirements for the person responsible for the professional activities at wholesale and retail establishments of drugs shall be in accordance with this Law.

Best regards!