New proposals regarding drug prescriptions.

The Ministry of Health is drafting a Circular stipulating regulations on prescriptions and the prescribing of chemical and biological drugs in outpatient treatment to ensure that prescriptions are appropriate to the diagnosis and severity of the disease, while achieving the goals of safety and rational drug use.

The Ministry of Health is drafting a Circular stipulating regulations on prescriptions and the prescribing of chemical and biological drugs in outpatient treatment to ensure that prescriptions are appropriate to the diagnosis and severity of the disease, while achieving the goals of safety and rational drug use.

The medical and pharmaceutical industries are making numerous efforts to curb drug abuse.

Limit drug abuse.

According to the draft, prescriptions must be based on documents prescribed by the Ministry of Health. The quantity of prescribed medication is based on treatment guidelines, but must not exceed 30 days' supply, except in cases of prescribing narcotic drugs, painkillers for cancer or AIDS patients, psychotropic drugs, or precursor drugs.

The draft also specifies the types of drugs that should not be included in prescriptions, including drugs not intended for disease prevention or treatment, drugs not licensed for circulation in Vietnam, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.

According to the draft regulations, for drugs with a single active ingredient, the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) should be used, for example, Paracetamol 500 mg. For drugs with multiple active ingredients or medical biological products, the trade name should be used. If a toxic drug is prescribed, the toxic drug must be listed before other drugs.

Electronic prescriptions will have the same legal validity as paper prescriptions. Healthcare facilities will use software to create, digitally sign, share, and store prescriptions. In particular, for drugs with special controls, such as narcotics, psychotropic drugs, and precursors, healthcare facilities will need to print prescriptions and store them on-site.

It is known that after the amended Pharmacy Law allowed the online sale of over-the-counter drugs, the buying and selling of medicines has become much more convenient. According to Mr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong, Director of the Drug Administration Department (Ministry of Health), the online drug market in Vietnam began to develop strongly from 2017-2018 and currently accounts for 5-8% of the drug sales market share, with more than 1,000 online pharmaceutical businesses. However, online drug sales also face many challenges.

Online pharmacies are only permitted to sell over-the-counter medications that are not subject to special control measures. Online pharmaceutical businesses must comply with regulations regarding inspection and licensing before selling medications through electronic platforms.

The Drug Administration recommends that online drug retailers strictly adhere to regulations regarding drug sales.

Is there any consideration to allowing the online sale of prescription drugs?

Although online shopping has become a popular option, medicines directly affect people's health and lives, so allowing the sale of prescription drugs through electronic platforms must comply with conditions that ensure safety, protect public health, and prevent risks.

Currently, the healthcare sector is implementing electronic medical records and electronic prescriptions, but the scale of implementation is still small and not yet standardized nationwide. In addition, the lack of a complete national healthcare database is also a major challenge.

The sale of medicines through e-commerce must comply with strict conditions regarding facilities, personnel, and drug quality. Specifically, online drug businesses must be those that have been granted certificates of eligibility to conduct pharmaceutical business through traditional methods, and online sales should only be a supplementary activity.

These facilities must adhere to strict drug testing and quality control procedures.

The National Assembly has decided to allow the online sale of prescription drugs only in the event of a Group A infectious disease outbreak. In this case, pharmaceutical businesses can sell prescription drugs online, but must adhere to strict consultation and control procedures.

Regarding the benefits of allowing the online sale of prescription drugs, some argue that it will help alleviate the burden on healthcare facilities, especially during peak patient times or emergencies. Patients can receive advice and purchase medication online without having to go to the hospital, saving time and money and reducing overcrowding at healthcare facilities.

A representative from a pharmaceutical company stated that allowing the online sale of prescription drugs also creates opportunities for businesses to expand their market, increase brand recognition, and optimize sales processes.

One of the major concerns when selling prescription drugs online is the safety and quality of the medication. However, if properly regulated and implemented, selling prescription drugs through e-commerce can better protect consumers.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/de-xuat-moi-ve-ke-don-thuoc-d250711.html