What rights and responsibilities will a drug retailer have in Vietnam?
What rights and responsibilities will a drug retailer have in Vietnam?
What rights and responsibilities will a drug retailer have in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)
Based on Section 4.1.2 of Chapter IV of the Handbook of Practice at drug retailers (issued with Decision 696/QD-QLD in 2021), the following are the rights and responsibilities of a drug retailer, which is a dispensary.
Specifically, a drug retailer at a dispensary has the following rights:
- To conduct one, some, or all pharmaceutical business activities if they meet the corresponding conditions for each type of business establishment as regulated by the Pharmacy Law.
- To enjoy preferential policies when conducting pharmaceutical business activities as regulated by the law.
- To receive information and advertise drugs as regulated by the law.
- To organize mobile drug drug retailers in areas with ethnic minority communities, mountainous regions, islands, and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions as regulated by the Government.
- To purchase and retail essential drugs and non-prescription drugs, except vaccines; in the case of purchasing and retailing drugs listed in the restricted drug list, it must comply with the regulations in Article 34 of the Pharmacy Law. For dispensaries in areas with ethnic minority communities, mountainous regions, islands, and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, they are allowed to sell additional types of drugs as regulated by the Minister of Health: selling additional prescription drugs not listed in the essential drug list when permitted in writing by the Department of Health (Article 20, Circular No. 07/2018/TT-BYT).
- To participate in the distribution of drugs under insurance, programs, and health projects when meeting the requirements and conditions of the insurance, program, or project.
A drug retailer at a dispensary has the following responsibilities:
- To have a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Business Conditions and only conduct the type of business, scope, and location stated in the Certificate.
- To ensure the maintenance of pharmaceutical business conditions during the business operation as regulated by the Pharmacy Law.
- To retrieve drugs and drug ingredients as regulated in Article 62 of the Pharmacy Law.
- To compensate for damages to organizations and individuals caused by the establishment's errors as regulated by the law.
- To comply with the decisions of competent state agencies in ensuring the supply of drugs and drug ingredients during dangerous epidemics, natural disasters, and emergencies.
- To report to the Ministry of Health or the Department of Health and fulfill obligations as regulated by the law in case of temporary suspension of operation for more than 6 months or termination of operation.
- To notify and update the list of individuals with a Pharmaceutical Practice Certificate practicing at the establishment to the competent authority as regulated by the Minister of Health.
- To publicly display the Pharmaceutical Practice Certificate and the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Business Conditions at the business establishment.
- To submit annual reports and reports as required by the competent drug management authority.
- To comply with the regulations of the Ministry of Health regarding the retail of drugs listed in the restricted drug list.
- To publicly display the retail prices in Vietnamese dong at the transaction location or drug selling location of the pharmaceutical business establishment for the convenience of observation and identification by customers and competent management authorities, and to comply with other regulations on drug price management.
- To keep documents and related records for each batch of drugs and drug ingredients for at least 1 year from the expiration date of the drugs and drug ingredients.
- To store drugs and drug ingredients according to the conditions stated on the label.
- To clearly indicate the name of the drug, its content, and expiration date for users in the case of retailing drugs not packaged in the outer packaging of the drug; in the case of no accompanying prescription, additional information such as dosage, frequency of use, and method of use must be provided.
- To only sell prescription drugs at the dispensary when there is a prescription.
- Not to sell drug ingredients, except medicinal materials.
According to Article 77 of the Pharmacy Law 2016, drug retailers have the responsibilities to:
- Counsel drug users to deal with unusual signs shown during the use of drugs;
- Collect information about unusual signs shown during the use of drugs and notify it to a competent authority.
Best Regards!
