Market transparency, quality control for people to buy medicine online safely

In Vietnam, the online drug market began to grow strongly from 2017 - 2018 and currently accounts for about 5-8% of the drug market share, with more than 1,000 online pharmaceutical businesses.

In Vietnam, the online drug market began to grow strongly from 2017 - 2018 and currently accounts for about 5-8% of the drug market share, with more than 1,000 online pharmaceutical businesses.

According to published reports and surveys, by 2025, connected consumers will account for nearly 40% of the global population and contribute more than 50% of total annual consumption worldwide. Connected consumers are defined as those who have internet access and are willing to spend from their income.

It is the responsibility of pharmaceutical businesses to provide customers with information about drugs and advice on drug use.

In Vietnam, the online drug market began to grow strongly from 2017 - 2018 and currently accounts for about 5-8% of the drug market share, with more than 1,000 online pharmaceutical businesses.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong, Director of the Department of Drug Administration, Ministry of Health, currently in Vietnam, the number of connected consumers in 2015 was 23 million people, however, this number is expected to nearly double, reaching 40 million people in 2025. Currently, the total value of goods bought and sold through Vietnam's e-commerce channel has reached tens of billions of USD.

Through this, it can be seen that doing business by e-commerce is a new business method, an inevitable trend in the digital age. This provides many opportunities for retailers or companies because it not only adds a sales channel but also opens up new markets, promotes products and expands the business capabilities of the enterprise.

At the same time, it also facilitates people to access information and buy medicine more easily for common medicines such as non-prescription drugs.

Despite its many outstanding advantages, according to Mr. Cuong, because drugs are essential goods that directly affect the health and even the lives of patients, the Drug Administration of Vietnam is also very cautious when proposing regulations on e-commerce in pharmaceutical business when issuing this Law. To strictly control, management tools will be deployed synchronously, including pre-inspection and post-inspection.

The law stipulates that an establishment wishing to conduct e-commerce must be specifically assessed for its facilities, personnel, and documents and must be granted a Certificate of Eligibility for Pharmaceutical Business. That is, it must be an existing business establishment that has been licensed to operate in the traditional manner. Online sales are simply an activity carried out in parallel with traditional sales.

Therefore, whether doing business in the traditional or online way, the establishment must still comply with the general regulations. In addition, the Law also stipulates that, except in cases of quarantine due to group A epidemics, pharmaceutical business establishments are only allowed to retail via e-commerce for non-prescription drugs that are not specially controlled drugs or drugs with retail restrictions.

At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to trade drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients through e-commerce through means other than e-commerce trading floors, e-commerce sales applications, and e-commerce sales websites with online ordering functions. This means that all online sales and livestreaming by spontaneous individuals with drug products are prohibited.

The responsibility of pharmaceutical business establishments is to provide information to customers about drugs and advice on drug use. Circulars guiding good retail drug practice will be adjusted and amended accordingly and have specific requirements for the operation of pharmaceutical business establishments in the form of e-commerce, including the implementation method, advice on drug use, and the responsibility of the professional in charge of selling drugs in the electronic environment.

For example, controlling and approving drug distribution at retail establishments; consulting and recording drug use consultation information before the drug is delivered to customers...

The establishment must notify the competent authority before conducting business via e-commerce. In parallel with the regulations to strictly manage e-commerce activities, the Drug Administration of Vietnam is also reviewing and proposing additional acts and measures to sanction administrative violations related to e-commerce in pharmaceutical business.

In the initial phase of implementing the Law, e-commerce activities will certainly be prioritized for inspection and supervision to ensure that regulations are properly and fully implemented, helping people use medicines safely and effectively.

Previously, talking about the amended Pharmacy Law allowing the sale of non-prescription drugs online, Ms. Nguyen Do Quyen, Deputy General Director of FPT Retail shared that the legalization of online drug sales in the amended Pharmacy Law is in line with market trends and is expected to bring many positive impacts. Accordingly, people will enjoy many benefits in buying drugs or health care products.

At the same time, legalizing online drug trading activities also helps the supply and management of drug trading and use to be transparent and effective, towards identification of each transaction, contributing positively to improving the effectiveness of patient treatment, reducing the burden on the hospital system, in line with the development trend of the region and the world in digital transformation.

“For the first time, the operation of the pharmacy chain model has been officially and specifically legalized. This is of great significance to businesses, affirming the recognition of the National Assembly and management agencies for the role of pharmacy chains in providing drugs to consumers,” Ms. Quyen said.

Although happy that online drug sales have a legal corridor, according to FPT Retail's leaders, the company hopes that in the coming time, when developing decrees and guiding circulars, the Government and the Ministry of Health will receive diverse opinions, and at the same time refer to the online drug sales management model of countries with similar characteristics to Vietnam to issue detailed instructions suitable for the digital economy.

It is known that buying medicine online not only benefits consumers but also promotes digital transformation in the pharmaceutical industry, creating a more transparent and modern business environment.

Pharmaceutical companies, especially online pharmacies, not only improve the efficiency of warehouse management and operations but also make pharmaceutical products more accessible to consumers in all regions, from urban to rural areas.

In particular, when the Politburo issued Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on December 22, 2024, with the goal of enhancing the application of information technology in the fields of health and pharmaceuticals, FPT Long Chau's deployment of online drug sales via the VNIed platform is not only a strategic step for the enterprise but also a suitable and timely step in implementing the common goals of the country.

Previously, buying medicine at traditional pharmacies not only took time and effort but also posed the risk of consumers facing products of unknown origin. Meanwhile, with FPT Long Chau's online medicine sales platform, each product is strictly tested for quality and has a clear origin, thereby creating strong trust for people when buying medicine.

In particular, this also helps people in remote areas easily access genuine medicines without having to worry about quality or have to travel far.

FPT Long Chau not only provides famous pharmaceutical products but also cooperates with domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies, ensuring a diverse and abundant supply of pharmaceuticals.

FPT Long Chau representative said that the company not only aims to sell medicine but also wants to convey health information, helping people easily look up information about medicines, diseases, and treatment methods.

Selling medicine online through VNIed is a big step forward to help us reach consumers quickly and effectively, especially those who do not have much time to go to the store.

Digital transformation not only helps optimize the sales process but also brings many benefits in drug management. Using the VNIed platform allows FPT Long Chau to integrate smart warehouse and distribution management systems, helping to track the quality of drugs from the time they are imported to the time they are delivered to customers.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/minh-bach-thi-truong-kiem-soat-chat-luong-de-nguoi-dan-mua-thuoc-online-an-toan-d244193.html