Directive No. 07/BYT-CT on Strengthening the Management of Private Medical and Pharmaceutical Practices

DIRECTIVE

ON ENFORCING THE MANAGEMENT OF PRIVATE PRACTICE IN MEDICINE AND PHARMACY

On September 30, 1993, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly adopted the Ordinance on Private Practice in Medicine and Pharmacy, allowing individuals who meet the required standards and conditions to engage in private practice in medicine and pharmacy. In recent years, private practice in medicine and pharmacy has created favorable conditions for people in seeking medical care and purchasing medicines, contributing positively to the health care and protection of the population's health. However, the management of private practice in medicine and pharmacy in many localities has not been given due attention, with inspections and audits not being conducted regularly and strictly, resulting in many violations of the law not being detected and dealt with severely, such as practicing beyond one’s expertise, practicing without a license, violating professional regulations, counterfeit drugs although reduced, substandard drugs and smuggled drugs still circulate in the market, affecting the health and lives of patients.

To strictly implement the Ordinance on Private Practice in Medicine and Pharmacy and ensure the safety of the population's health, the Minister of Health instructs the directors of provincial and centrally-administered city Health Departments to immediately fulfill the following requirements:

1. Strengthen and consolidate specialized units to manage strictly private medical and pharmaceutical practices within their respective provinces.

2. Rectify the organization of reviewing and issuing certificates confirming the qualifications and conditions for establishing private medical and pharmaceutical practices in accordance with the provisions of the law.

3. Organize training for private practitioners on the legal regulations regarding private medical and pharmaceutical practice and professional technical regulations, as well as new medical knowledge, so that practitioners can voluntarily comply while enhancing their professional knowledge to meet the increasingly high demands of Vietnamese and global medicine.

4. Organize and guide private medical and pharmaceutical practices to participate in primary health care activities, working together with the health sector to effectively implement the strategy of health care and protection of the population from now until 2000 and 2020.

5. Regularly conduct inspection and audit work on private medical and pharmaceutical practice. The specialized health inspection organizations at local levels must be strengthened to ensure sufficient quantity and quality to operate. From July 1996 to the end of 1996, all provinces and centrally-administered cities must carry out inspections and audits to reinforce discipline in the field of private medical and pharmaceutical practice. Special attention should be paid to restoring market order for medicines, including traditional medicines, eliminating counterfeit, substandard, expired, and smuggled medicines, as well as those not permitted for circulation. Strictly deal with illegal private medical and pharmaceutical practices and violators of the law, while also recognizing those who have made contributions to health care and protection. The inspection and audit plan will be carried out as follows:

5.1 The Ministry of Health will establish a Steering Committee chaired by the Minister of Health and invite relevant ministries and agencies to participate.

5.2 At the local level, the Director of the Health Department will develop an action plan and submit it to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city for approval and issuance of a decision to establish the Steering Committee, with the Health Department serving as the permanent body along with the participation of relevant departments and sectors.

5.3 Funding for inspection and audit activities related to private medical and pharmaceutical practice will be sourced from the following:

- From the State budget support allocated in the annual health service budget. The Director of the Health Department will coordinate with the Director of the Finance and Price Department to submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee for decision.

- Revenue from administrative penalties in the health sector according to the regulations of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health.

5.4 From July 15, 1996 to August 31, 1996, the Ministry of Health will direct pilot inspections in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, then summarize experiences to organize inspections nationwide.

5.5 The content of inspections and audits will be unified according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

Upon receipt of this Directive, the Directors of Health Departments must develop plans to implement immediately and report results monthly to the Ministry.