Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc has signed a document sent to the People's Committees of provinces and cities; Departments of Health; Department of Health (Ministry of Public Security); Military Medical Department (Ministry of National Defense); medical examination and treatment facilities, pharmaceutical establishments and pharmaceutical businesses nationwide on strengthening the management of drugs containing fentanyl.
According to the Ministry of Health, recently the Drug Administration of Vietnam has received many documents from the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) warning about the complicated developments of drug crime related to fentanyl.
To proactively prevent and prevent the risk of loss of addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs and precursors used as drugs for illegal purposes, the Ministry of Health requests localities to strictly implement legal regulations on drug prevention and control in the pharmaceutical field; strictly control the business and use of drugs subject to special control, especially drugs containing fentanyl.
The Ministry also proposed to strengthen inspection, examination and supervision of the implementation of regulations related to this group of drugs at medical facilities and pharmaceutical businesses.
The Ministry of Health requires medical examination and treatment facilities to strictly manage the prescription and dispensing of drugs containing fentanyl; mandatorily recall 100% of fentanyl drug tube shells after use and strictly implement the process of destroying drugs and tube shells to prevent loss or misuse.
Localities are also required to review and statistically count units using and trading addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, and precursor drugs; focus on inspecting establishments that trade and use large quantities, especially drugs containing fentanyl.
For medical examination and treatment facilities and establishments with pharmaceutical activities under the Ministry of Health, this agency requests to proactively review the entire process related to drugs containing fentanyl, ensuring strict control at each stage, not allowing loss to occur.
In case of detecting drug loss, establishments must promptly report to the local People's Committee, specialized medical agencies and functional agencies for handling according to regulations.
The Ministry of Health also requests pharmaceutical business establishments to seriously implement current regulations on the management of addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs and precursors used as drugs; and at the same time strictly prohibit the sale of drugs to the wrong subjects leading to illegal use.
Fentanyl is an opioid pain reliever, commonly used after surgery. The drug functions similarly to Morphine but is 100 times more effective. Patients are only allowed to use fentanyl on prescription from a doctor.
