There needs to be a more effective management mechanism in drug purchase, sale and price management.
Commenting on the Draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Pharmacy, delegates said that there needs to be a more effective management mechanism in the purchase, sale and management of drug prices.
On the afternoon of September 13, the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province held a conference to collect opinions on the Draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Pharmacy.
Comrades: Thai Thi An Chung - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Tran Nhat Minh - full-time delegate of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation chaired the conference.
Draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles ofPharmaceutical LawFocus on amending and supplementing 43 articles of 8 chapters out of a total of 116 articles and 14 chapters of the 2016 Pharmacy Law, with groups of issues such as developing the pharmaceutical industry; reorganizing the drug and pharmaceutical ingredient distribution business system; registering the circulation of drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients; recalling drugs; supplementing and applying a number of sets of principles and standards for good manufacturing practices of drugs; pharmaceutical ingredients; managing exports and imports; drug advertising information; testing of drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients; managing drug prices...
Commenting on the Draft Law on Pharmacy Amendments, delegates all agreed that, after 7 years of implementation, the Law on Pharmacy has basically met practical requirements, enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of pharmaceuticals, and ensured the people's right to use quality, reasonable, and safe drugs. The Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to a Number of Articles of the Law on Pharmacy was developed to remove difficulties and obstacles in legal institutions in drug management activities.
Delegates' opinions were concerned about amending and supplementing a number of points of Article 32 on pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical ingredient business, including electronic pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical ingredient business activities.
According to delegates, the Law has not mentioned electronic prescriptions but only mentioned drug trading in the form ofelectronicsThe law needs to have additional regulations on allowing drug sales on e-commerce portals to ensure strict control.
Regarding new forms and methods of pharmaceutical business, including pharmacy chains, delegates suggested replacing the phrase "pharmacy chain" with "drug retail chain" to ensure that the Law uses general and scientific terminology.
The issuance of pharmacy practice certificates needs to be consistent with legal regulations to ensure fairness between pharmacists and medical practitioners. It is recommended to supplement the practice certificate for pharmacists working in hospitals; the Law needs to have specific regulations on the scope of pharmacy practice for each specific subject to issue practice certificates in accordance with the training program and roadmap.
Delegates suggested that the Law should further study specific mechanisms for investment projects in the pharmaceutical sector; continue to research and have regulations on strong enough incentive policies, with focus and key points, suitable for each field, priority subjects, and development strategy of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry.
Delegates said that the regulations on selling prescription drugs are not strictly enforced in practice, so they need to be evaluated and researched to amend them to suit reality and meet drug management requirements.
Delegates said that there should be a more effective management mechanism in the purchase, sale and management of drug prices. It is recommended that the Law should have detailed regulations on the list of drugs, business forms, and subjects allowed to buy or sell drugs in the form of e-commerce. At the same time, it is necessary to limit the subjects of purchase and sale to create transparency of regulations and avoid risks arising to protect the safety of users.
On behalf of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Comrade Thai Thi An Chung - Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation received and highly appreciated the responsible comments of the delegates. She said that the delegates' comments will be compiled by the Delegation and presented at the upcoming National Assembly session.
