Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health requires hospitals to review drug purchasing and supply procedures

Pharmacy staff at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City are classifying drugs. Illustrative photo.

Accordingly, medical examination and treatment facilities are required to urgently check and compare the list of drugs at the unit (including pharmacies on the premises of medical examination and treatment facilities) with counterfeit drugs detected by the authorities; ensure that counterfeit products are not traded or used according to the announcement of the Department of Drug Administration.

Review the drug purchasing and supply process and the drug supply situation in the past; ensure that the drugs supplied are licensed for circulation and supplied by legal pharmaceutical businesses, with full invoices and documents.

In case of detecting suspicious signs of abnormality of drugs, drugs that have not been licensed for circulation, immediately seal the drug, do not continue to use the drug and report to the health management agency, competent authorities for inspection, verification and handling according to the provisions of law. Review drug prescription and rectify and handle cases of prescription of drugs with products that are not drugs (if any).

In addition, strengthen clinical pharmacy activities in consulting, prescription monitoring, monitoring adverse drug reactions, and drug interaction management according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health; strengthen management of drug information and drug advertising activities at the unit; only allow drug introduction and release of drug information documents that have been permitted for circulation or confirmed by competent state agencies.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health requires pharmaceutical businesses to urgently check and compare their drug lists with counterfeit drugs discovered by authorities; ensure that they do not trade in counterfeit products as announced by the Drug Administration Department. Only trade in drugs that are permitted for circulation, with invoices, documents, and origins in accordance with regulations; fully connect drug purchase and sale data to the National Pharmaceutical Database System.

At the same time, drug retail establishments are required to comply with regulations on the sale of prescription drugs: when selling, they must have a prescription and keep the prescription. Inform people who come to buy drugs about the harmful effects of buying drugs of unknown origin and using prescription drugs without a prescription.

Assign the district health department, Thu Duc City to strengthen inspection and supervision of drug business and advertising activities in the area; promptly detect violations and coordinate with local information and communication management agencies to strictly handle violations (if any).

Previously, on April 21, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health also issued an urgent document requesting units to strengthen the prevention of counterfeit drugs and drugs of unknown origin in order to promptly detect, prevent and handle the production, trade and use of counterfeit drugs; at the same time, ensuring effective treatment and safety for people's health.

THANH SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/so-y-te-tphcm-yeu-cau-cac-benh-vien-ra-soat-quy-trinh-mua-thuoc-cung-ung-thuoc-post791940.html