Roadmap to increase of number of clinical pharmacologists in healthcare establishments in Vietnam

Currently, the number of clinical pharmacology supervisors and clinical pharmacologists is specified as follows:

- Healthcare establishments with at least 200 hospital beds shall have 01 clinical pharmacology supervisor, at least 01 clinical pharmacologist for every 200 inpatient beds and at least 01 clinical pharmacologist for every 1.000 prescriptions given to outpatients having health insurance in a day;

- Healthcare establishments with fewer than 200 hospital beds or healthcare establishments without a pharmacy department shall have at least 01 clinical pharmacology supervisor cum clinical pharmacologist serving inpatients (if any) and at least 01 clinical pharmacologist for every 1.000 prescriptions given to outpatients having health insurance in a day.

However, according to Clause 3 Article 3 of the Decree No. 131/2020/NĐ-CP of the Vietnam’s Government, the roadmap to increase of number of clinical pharmacologists in healthcare establishments is as following:

- By January 01, 2026 at the latest, hospitals of class II and higher must ensure sufficient number of clinical pharmacologists with at least 01 clinical pharmacologist for every 150 inpatient beds and at least 1,5 clinical pharmacologists for every 1.000 prescriptions given to outpatients having health insurance in a day;

- By January 01, 2031 at the latest, healthcare establishments must ensure a sufficient number of clinical pharmacologists with at least 01 clinical pharmacologist for every 100 inpatient beds and at least 02 clinical pharmacologists for every 1.000 prescriptions given to outpatients having health insurance in a day.

More details at the Decree No. 131/2020/NĐ-CP of the Vietnam’s Government, effective from January 01, 2021.

Le Thanh

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