Controlling drug trading on e-commerce platforms

According to the Drug Administration of Vietnam ( Ministry of Health ), recently, the media has reported on the phenomenon of buying and selling drugs, including prescription drugs and drugs subject to special control, on social networking sites. The Drug Administration of Vietnam has sent a document to units and organizations selling products through e-commerce such as Meta Platforms Inc, Shopee Company Limited... requesting measures to control and prevent these behaviors.

To strengthen the management of pharmaceutical business activities by e-commerce, ensuring safety for users, Mr. Le Viet Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Drug Administration signed an official dispatch requesting the Department of Health of provinces and cities to direct and coordinate with relevant units to strengthen inspection, examination and supervision of pharmaceutical business establishments in the area to maintain proper implementation of professional regulations; ensure strict compliance with legal regulations in pharmaceutical business activities.

Counterfeit drugs were discovered and seized by Thanh Hoa Provincial Police.

In particular, strengthen the inspection and supervision of drug retail establishments in the area to detect and prevent drug trading at places other than the business locations stated on the Certificate of Eligibility for Drug Trading or permitted by competent state agencies (currently online trading).

Inspect and prevent the purchase and sale of prescription drugs and specially controlled drugs that are not in accordance with regulations and strictly handle violations (if any).

Strengthen information and dissemination to pharmaceutical businesses in the area of ​​legal regulations on the pharmaceutical field, the principles and standards of "Good Practice", which require pharmaceutical businesses to focus on inspection and control of drug origin, drug quality, and drug expiry date before putting them on the market.

The Drug Administration also requires strengthening the inspection of legal documents of suppliers and customers, only buying and selling drugs to pharmaceutical businesses with certificates of eligibility for pharmaceutical business with appropriate business scope, and updating documents regulating the purchase and sale of prescription drugs and special control drugs.

At the same time, coordinate with local media agencies to propagate and provide information to people to only buy medicine from legal pharmaceutical businesses, medicine with full information, clear origin; avoid buying medicine based on inaccurate information on social networking sites.

Increase information to the people to be "smart consumers", need to raise vigilance to join hands with state management agencies in the fight against counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, and commercial fraud.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/kiem-soat-kinh-doanh-thuoc-tren-san-thuong-mai-dien-tu-i765855/