Only licensed businesses are allowed to sell drugs online.
The current Pharmacy Law and Decree 54 guiding the Pharmacy Law do not regulate issues related to online drug trading or drug trading through e-commerce platforms. How to manage online drug sales is a matter of public concern.
Talking to Lao Dong reporter, the leader of the Drug Administration Department - Ministry of Health said: It can be seen that doing business through e-commerce is a new business method, an inevitable trend in the digital age. Providing many opportunities for retailers or companies because it not only provides an additional sales channel but also opens up new markets, promotes products and expands the business capabilities of enterprises.
"Therefore, it is necessary to supplement and build a legal corridor for the above business method in the pharmaceutical field to avoid legal gaps on this issue," said this representative.
The leader of the Drug Administration Department said: It is expected that the revised Law on Pharmacy will add a provision requiring an establishment wishing to conduct e-commerce to have its facilities, personnel, documents and records specifically assessed and must be granted a Certificate of Eligibility for Pharmaceutical Business.
"That means, this must be an existing business establishment, licensed to operate in the traditional way. Online sales are just an activity carried out in parallel with traditional sales. Therefore, whether operating in the traditional way or online, the establishment must still comply with general regulations" - the leader of the Drug Administration emphasized.
It is easy to see that this new business method has more impact on retail than wholesale because it involves interaction with customers.
It is the responsibility of drug retailers to provide customers with information about drugs and advice on drug use.
Before selling drugs online, you must contact the buyer.
The draft stipulates that establishments doing business through e-commerce are responsible for: Posting and providing information about the establishment's Certificate of Eligibility for Pharmaceutical Business and information about drugs;
It is necessary to organize online consultation and instructions on how to use drugs in accordance with the law for drug buyers and organize the transportation of drugs to buyers according to regulations. At the same time, notify the Department of Health before selling products through e-commerce.
It is expected that when the revised Law on Pharmacy is issued, the Circulars guiding good retail drug practices will be adjusted and amended accordingly and have specific requirements for the operations of drug business establishments in the form of e-commerce;
Including the method of implementation, advice on drug use, the responsibility of the professional in charge of selling drugs in the electronic environment in accordance with the characteristics of this form of business (for example, the control and approval of drug distribution by retail establishments; advice and recording of drug use advice before the drug is delivered to customers...), regulations on receiving online orders but before making a sale, there must be online or phone contact to determine whether the drug is eligible to be sold, and advice on use before selling the drug to the buyer.
In addition, since this is a new policy, it is expected that in the initial phase, the draft Law will only allow retail sale of common drugs, which are on the list of non-prescription drugs, but are not drugs subject to special control; drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients sold wholesale will be on the list of drugs and ingredients not subject to special control.
To ensure continuous supply of drugs to patients, the draft also stipulates special cases where there is medical isolation when there is an infectious disease of group A that has been declared an epidemic according to the provisions of the law on prevention and control of infectious diseases, the facility is allowed to sell prescription drugs.
After the implementation process, the presiding agency will evaluate and review to consider adjusting these policies if necessary.
