Directive 23/CT-TTg strengthening the management, connection with drug suppliers

THE PRIME MINISTER

DirectiveNo. 23/CT-TTg dated August 23, 2018 of thePrime Ministerstrengthening the management and connection with drug suppliers

Over the past period, the drug supply and distribution system of Vietnam has been widely developed and has satisfied the medicine demands of the citizens.  However, the drug supply still remains inadequate, especially the activities for selling and purchasing drugs with unclear origins and counterfeit and low-quality drugs; activities for purchasing and selling drugs without following the prescriptions, especially purchase, sale and use of antibiotics without prescriptions that lead to an alarming situation of antibiotic resistance.  The main reason this situation occurs is due to an ineffective management of drug suppliers and cases where there are no effective equipment for helping the citizens to get access to information, origins, quality and prices of drugs and helping the regulatory agencies to inspect and control the drug purchase and sale in the market.

In order to increase effectiveness in managing the supply and distribution of drugs with intense focus on the interests of the citizens, we must rectify the situations where unqualified drugs with unclear origins and prices are sold, or situations where drugs are sold without following the prescriptions. Also, we must ensure transparency in management of drugs by implementing the Resolution No.20/NQ-TW dated October 25, 2017 of the Plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee on strengthening the protection and improvement of the health of citizens in new circumstances, the Prime Minister hereby gives the following instructions: 

1. The Ministry of Health shall:

a. Promptly implement the methods for unifies state management of the drug distribution system, in order to ensure interests of patients and citizens, at the same time enable enterprises and traders to implement the law regulations.  Strengthen connection between drug suppliers in the whole country from September, 2018; in 2018, strengthen the connection with suppliers of drugs and medicinal ingredients, pharmacies and communal health stations having drug cabinets; and strive for strengthening the connection with medicine counters in 2019.

b. Develop training guidelines which are documents or videos, etc., ensure that all related organizations and individuals receive specific guidelines and that all drug suppliers have trainings and guidance; issue regulations on electronic prescription and at the same time, connect with drug suppliers to ensure that the drug prescription and sale of drugs with prescriptions are controlled.

c. Regularly collect, update and disseminate information about the drugs, indications, directions for use, dosage, origins and prices through the national database.

d. Strengthen dissemination of information about the management and connection with drug suppliers; the citizens shall use drugs and research information about them through the national drug database. Also, they shall prescribe, sell, purchase and use drugs by following the prescriptions.

dd. Strengthen inspection for drug suppliers and strictly handle all violations.

2. People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall:

a. Direct the connection with drug suppliers, strengthen management of drug wholesalers and retailers in the area and prescribe and sell drugs with prescriptions.

b. Strengthen dissemination of information about the connection with drug suppliers through the mass media and basic information system. Strengthen the management of drug wholesalers and retailers and the purchase and use of drugs with prescriptions.

c. Carry out inspection for the connection, prescription, purchase and sale of drugs with prescriptions.

Annually, the Ministry of Health shall summarize the evaluation of the implementation process and results of this Directive and send a report to the Prime Minister./.

Prime Minister

Nguyen Xuan Phuc