From January 1, 2013, the sale of alternative treatment drugs on the market is prohibited.

(Baonghean)On November 15, 2012, the Government issued Decree No. 96/2012/ND-CP regulating the treatment of opioid addiction with substitute medications. Notably, this decree prohibits the sale or supply of substitute medications to facilities not authorized to treat opioid addiction according to the law.

According to this Decree, opioid addiction treatment facilities include substitution therapy centers and substitution therapy dispensing centers. These facilities must meet all the necessary conditions regarding infrastructure, equipment, substitution therapy drugs, and personnel to operate. Specifically, substitution therapy centers must have medical staff authorized to examine, treat, and prescribe opioid drugs; medical staff to support examination, treatment, testing, and counseling; the number of full-time staff must reach at least 75% of the total staff of the substitution therapy center; there must be a reception area, administrative office, and drug dispensing room; the rooms within the treatment center must have an area of ​​at least 10 square meters… and other specific conditions as guided by the Minister of Health.

Opioid addiction treatment may only be carried out at licensed treatment facilities as mentioned above; when opioid addicts voluntarily participate in treatment and must comply with professional guidelines as prescribed by the Minister of Health.

This Decree shall take effect from January 1, 2013.

NT (Compilation)