With a college degree in pharmacy, can I open a drugstore or dispensary in Vietnam?

With a college degree in pharmacy, can I open a drugstore or dispensary in Vietnam?

With a college degree in pharmacy, can I open a drugstore or dispensary in Vietnam? I graduated from pharmacy college in Da Nang in 2019. And have a pharmacy practice certificate. So, my family is currently living in the district of Da Nang city, can I open a drugstore or dispensary?

Reply:

Article 18 of the Pharmacy Law 2016 stipulates conditions to be satisfied by the chief pharmacist of a drug retailer:

1. The chief pharmacist of a drugstore must have any of the qualifications specified in Point a Clause 1 Article 13 hereof and at least 02 years’ apprenticeship at a suitable pharmacy establishment. c) The chief pharmacist of a drugstore may also be in charge of clinical pharmacology therein.

2. The chief pharmacist of a dispensary must have any of the qualifications specified in Point a, e or g Clause 1 Article 13 hereof and at least 18 months’ apprenticeship at a suitable pharmacy establishment.

3. The chief pharmacist of the dispensary of the medical station of a commune must have any of the qualifications specified in Point a, e g or k Clause 1 Article 13 hereof and at least 01 year’s apprenticeship at a suitable pharmacy establishment or a health facility; If the medical station is located in an ethnic minority area, highland, island, extremely disadvantaged area, the chief pharmacist must have any of the qualifications specified in Point b or Point h Clause 1 Article 13 of this Article and at least 01 year’s apprenticeship at a health facility.

4. The chief pharmacist of a retailer of herbal ingredients, herbal drugs, or traditional drugs must have any of the qualifications specified in Point a, c, e, g, i, or l Clause 1 Article 13 hereof and at least 01 year’s apprenticeship at a pharmacy establishment or health facility applying traditional medicine, except for the case in Point c Clause 2 Article 13 hereof.

According to this Article, with a college degree, you can open a dispensary. For drugstores, the person in charge of the profession must have a university degree, so you can only open a dispensary in Vietnam.

With a college degree in pharmacy, can I open a drugstore or dispensary in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

Can a revoked pharmacy practice certificate be reissued in Vietnam?

Can a revoked pharmacy practice certificate be reissued in Vietnam? My pharmacy practice certificate was revoked. So let me ask, can I get my pharmacy practice certificate re-issued now? Look forward to receiving your feedback.

Reply:

In Article 12 of the Pharmacy Law 2016, it is stipulated:

Article 12. Issuance, reissuance, adjustment of pharmacy practice certificate

1. The pharmacy practice certificate shall be issued with or without an examination to:

b) A person whose pharmacy practice certificate is revoked as prescribed in Article 28 hereof.

If the pharmacy practice certificate is withdrawn in the cases specified in Clause 4, 6, 10, or 11 of Article 28 hereof, it shall only be issued after 12 months from the revocation date.

Thus, according to the above regulations, a person whose pharmacy practice certificate is revoked will still be re-issued a practice certificate. In the following case, the Pharmacy Practice Certificate will only be issued after 12 months from the date of revocation. Include:

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

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

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

What is validity of a certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business in Vietnam?

What is validity of a certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business in Vietnam? I opened a drugstore and applied for a certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business. So, can you please advise me how long the certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business is valid? Hope to receive a response from you soon. Thank you very much!

Reply:

According to the provisions of Article 41 of the Pharmacy Law 2016, a Certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business does not have an expiry date.

Thus, according to the above regulations in Vietnam, the Certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business is indefinitely valid. However, if a pharmacy business establishment does not meet the conditions prescribed in Article 33 of the 2016 Pharmacy Law, its certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business may be revoked. The assessment of eligibility for facilities, techniques and personnel is carried out every 3 years or irregularly according to regulations of the Minister of Health or international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

Best regards!