Principles for Developing Standard Operating Procedures Applied at Retail Pharmacies: Regulations and Guidelines
Pursuant to Section 5.1, Chapter V, Manual of Practice at Retail Pharmacies (Issued together with Decision 696/QD-QLD in 2021) stipulating the principles of constructing Standard Operating Procedures as follows:
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) applied at retail pharmacies are written documents detailing specific steps to carry out a task. SOPs are constructed based on current regulations, ensuring accurate, consistent execution of tasks to achieve predetermined requirements and maintain job quality at retail pharmacies.
SOP contents include:
- Purpose: Stipulates the manner of implementing standard operations in activities at retail pharmacies.
- Scope of application: for a specific activity.
- Implementation subject: specific implementation subject.
- Content: specific procedural steps.
- Attached documents.
- Storage form.
Some basic requirements:
- Page 1: Introduction section: record the name of the retail pharmacy; name of the procedure; page number; issuance number and date; department name; full name of the drafter/checker/approver.
- Page 2 onwards comprises the main content of the procedure.
- Requirement to write in command voice, concise, and easy to understand.
- Procedures of the retail pharmacy must be checked and approved by the professional manager in charge of pharmacy.
- The original document of the procedure must be stored. Several copies of each procedure should be sent to relevant departments, and if necessary, placed at convenient locations for staff reference. When a new procedure is issued, the corresponding old procedure must be withdrawn for storage for a period as specified by the facility.
- Each procedure must be revised and updated periodically. If no changes are needed, the professional manager must mark "no changes needed" on the original document, then sign and date it. When amendments are made, the entire procedure must be reprinted for issuance.
Respectfully!
