Advertising drugs before a competent authority certify the advertising content in Vietnam is prohibitted in Vietnam

Advertising drugs before a competent authority certify the advertising content in Vietnam is prohibitted in Vietnam (Internet image)

Law on Pharmacy 2016 stipulates the following activities are prohibited in drug advertising and pharmaceutical products:

- Advertising drugs without the content being approved by the competent state management agency or not in accordance with the approved content;

- Using certifications not recognized by the Ministry of Health, using material benefits, exploiting the names of organizations, individuals, various types of symbols, images, status, reputation, correspondence, thank-you letters for drug advertising;

- Using clinical research results, preclinical research results, quality control results, and bioequivalence testing results not recognized by the Ministry of Health for drug advertising.

Additionally, promotional activities for drugs that violate legal regulations in Vietnam are also strictly prohibited as stipulated in the Law on Pharmacy 2016. Furthermore, the law also prohibits other acts such as:

- Exploiting prescription drug practices for profiteering;

- Manufacturing, compounding, and selling traditional medicines combined with active pharmaceutical ingredients without the permission of competent state management agencies;

- Distributing, selling expired drugs, drugs improperly stored as per the label instructions, recalled drugs by competent state management agencies, and drugs with unclear origins or sources to customers;

- Providing information, advertisements, marketing, prescriptions, consultations, labeling, and usage instructions for non-drug products, except for medical equipment, to be used for disease prevention, treatment, diagnosis, mitigation, or adjusting the physiological functions of the human body.

More details can be found in Law on Pharmacy 2016, which comes into effect in Vietnam from January 1, 2017.

Ty Na

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE