Tightening control over drugs containing the active ingredient fentanyl.

The Ministry of Health has recently sent a document to the People's Committees of provinces and cities requesting them to strengthen the management and control of drugs containing the active ingredient fentanyl.

According to the Ministry of Health, it has recently received several documents from the Drug Crime Investigation Department of the Ministry of Public Security regarding the complex developments of drug crimes related to fentanyl.

According to official document No. 2089/CSMT-P5 dated April 8, 2026, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department announced that US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order designating fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction," considering it an urgent national security threat.

In Asia and Southeast Asia, crimes involving the use of fentanyl and its derivatives to mix into drugs and other products have also been discovered, aiming to enhance the "high" for users and endanger their lives.

In particular, in Vietnam, in November 2025, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department successfully investigated and dismantled a fentanyl-related case in Hanoi , seizing 6 vials of fentanyl (50mcg/10ml).

To proactively prevent and stop the risk of loss of pharmaceutical raw materials, including narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, and precursors used in pharmaceuticals; narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs, and precursors in general, especially fentanyl and drugs containing fentanyl, for illegal purposes, the Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct units and establishments trading and using drugs and pharmaceutical raw materials in their areas to strictly implement the legal regulations on drug prevention and control related to legitimate activities in the pharmaceutical field, especially the strict management and control of the trading and use of the above-mentioned groups of drugs that require special control, absolutely preventing loss or use for illegal purposes.

Local authorities are also required to strengthen inspection and monitoring activities to ensure compliance with legal regulations related to these drug groups.

At the same time, in the Official Letter, the Ministry of Health requested the Departments of Health of provinces and cities, and the Health Department (Ministry of Public Security), and the Military Medical Department (Ministry of National Defense) to direct medical examination and treatment facilities, pharmaceutical establishments in their areas, and facilities under their management to enhance responsibility in managing, prescribing, and dispensing drugs containing fentanyl; to strictly implement regulations and procedures related to drugs containing fentanyl, including the mandatory recall of 100% of used fentanyl vials and the strict implementation of the drug and vial disposal process to prevent loss or misuse.

Proactively review and compile statistics on units that use or trade narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, and raw materials for drug manufacturing that are narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, or precursors used in drug production within the area/under its management authority; focus on inspecting units that use or trade in large quantities, especially drugs containing fentanyl.

In addition, the Ministry of Health also requested that medical examination and treatment facilities and pharmaceutical establishments proactively review activities related to drugs containing fentanyl at their units, ensuring strict control at each stage of the process and preventing drug loss.

Strictly implement the directives of the Provincial/City People's Committee and the Department of Health as outlined in sections 1 and 2 of this document. In case of detecting any loss of medicine, the facility must proactively report to the Provincial/City People's Committee, the provincial-level health authorities, and relevant agencies (if necessary) for timely resolution.

The Ministry of Health requests that pharmaceutical businesses: Strictly implement current regulations on the management of narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, and drug raw materials that are narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, or precursors used in the manufacture of drugs;

Review the business operations of establishments, especially those dealing in drugs containing fentanyl; strictly prohibit the sale of drugs to unauthorized individuals, which could lead to illegal use.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/siet-quan-ly-thuoc-co-chua-hoat-chat-fentanyl.html