Ministry of Health: Resolutely handle violations of medical oxygen

The Ministry of Health has just sent a document to the Department of Health of provinces and cities; the Central Institute for Drug Control; the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Drug Control and medical oxygen production and trading establishments regarding strengthening the management of medical oxygen.

Accordingly, in the document signed and issued by Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, it is stated that recently, medical oxygen production, import and trading establishments have actively participated in the supply chain, basically meeting the demand for medical oxygen that meets quality standards to serve the medical examination and treatment of the people, as well as the prevention of the COVID-19 epidemic, contributing to repelling the COVID-19 epidemic.

In order to proactively ensure timely and adequate supply of medical oxygen that meets quality standards as prescribed; at the same time, prevent and combat the production, trade and use of oxygen of unknown origin and not meeting quality standards for medical use, the Ministry of Health requests units to strictly implement the following contents, specifically:

For Department of Health of provinces and citiesIt is necessary to strengthen information and communication work to organizations and individuals in production and business to develop production and business plans and solutions to ensure adequate supply of medical oxygen that meets quality standards for people's medical examination and treatment needs; absolutely do not produce or trade medical oxygen that does not comply with regulations.

Regularly organize training, coaching and guidance for production, business and medical oxygen facilities on management and compliance with current regulations on production, business, circulation, distribution and use of medical oxygen. At the same time, develop plans and organize inspections and controls of the medical oxygen business market in the area. Resolutely handle violations.

For the Central Institute for Drug Testing and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Drug Testing, The Ministry of Health requires the development of a sampling plan, the preparation of human resources, standards, equipment and analytical methods to test the quality of medical oxygen to meet the standards of the Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia and reference Pharmacopoeias. At the same time, it guides and coordinates with the Testing Centers of provinces and cities to conduct sampling and quality testing of medical oxygen in the area.

The Ministry of Health requests the Central Institute for Drug Testing and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Drug Testing to promptly report to the Ministry of Health (through the Department of Drug Administration) the results of quality testing in case the sample does not meet quality standards.

On the side of medical oxygen production and trading establishmentsIt is necessary to deploy and maintain compliance with standards in all production, business and storage activities in accordance with regulations. Implement a management system to ensure identification of origin, identification of production facilities, import facilities, business facilities and use in the supply chain.

Strictly check the quality during the production process, only circulate, distribute and use medical oxygen that meets quality standards; encourage facilities to strengthen anti-counterfeiting measures such as using barcodes, QR codes...

At the same time, review the production plan, proactively adjust the supply source to ensure adequate supply of medical oxygen for disease prevention and treatment needs; promptly report difficulties and problems to the Ministry of Health (through the Department of Drug Administration) for handling support./.