Guide · February 6, 2017
Pharmacy License in Vietnam: How to Check a Drugstore
A pharmacy license in Vietnam is really two documents, and a real drugstore should hold both. The first is a practice certificate for the pharmacist. The second is a certificate that the shop meets the rules for selling medicine. Below, you will learn how to confirm both papers before any purchase.
Why the rules changed in 2017
The National Assembly passed the Law on Pharmacy, number 105/2016/QH13, on April 6, 2016. It took effect on January 1, 2017. That is only five weeks ago, so many shops are still updating their papers. The law sets who may work in pharmacy and what a shop must have to sell medicine to the public.
You may see old licenses on a wall. Some shops hold papers issued under the earlier rules. That is not always a sign of a problem, because shops need time to switch. It is still fair to ask a shop what it holds and when it was issued.
The two documents a drugstore needs
The first document is the pharmacy practice certificate. It belongs to a person, not to the shop. It shows that a named pharmacist or pharmacy staff member has the training and experience the law asks for.
The second document is the certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business. It belongs to the shop. It shows that the premises, the equipment and the person in charge meet the conditions in the law. A shop that has one paper but not the other is not fully set up.
Think of it this way. One paper says who runs the shop. The other says the shop itself is fit to sell medicine.
What kind of shop is it?
The law sorts retail sellers into groups. A pharmacy, often called a nha thuoc, is the full drugstore. A drug counter, called a quay thuoc, is a smaller shop. There are also medicine cabinets at commune health stations and shops that sell only herbal or traditional medicine. Each group has its own conditions.
Ask which type the shop is. A small counter should not act like a full pharmacy. The type decides what the shop may sell and who must be in charge.
What to look for inside the shop
You can check a lot in two minutes without asking for anything.
- The business license and the eligibility certificate can be shown to you on request, not kept out of sight.
- The name of the person in charge is shown, and that person is at the shop during opening hours.
- Medicine is stored on shelves, away from food, drinks and household goods.
- Staff ask about a prescription before they hand over medicine that needs one.
If the person in charge is never there, treat that as a warning. The law ties the shop to a named, qualified person for a reason.
Look at the details on each paper. The shop name and address should match the sign outside. The name on the practice certificate should match the person in charge. A copy that is faded, cut or hard to read is worth a question.
How to verify with the health department
Each province has a Department of Health, called Sở Y tế. It is the office that deals with drugstores in its area. If you are unsure about a shop, you can contact that office and ask whether the shop is on record. Bring the shop name, the address and the name on the certificate.
Write down what you see before you call. Note the certificate number, the date and the issuing office. Staff can then find the entry much faster. If the office cannot find the shop, ask the shop to explain before you buy anything.
You can also report a shop you think is operating without papers. Keep your note, and a photo of the front of the shop if the owner allows it.
A short checklist
- Ask for both papers: the practice certificate and the eligibility certificate.
- Match the names and the address to the sign.
- Confirm the person in charge is on site.
- Check how medicine is stored.
- If still unsure, ask the provincial Department of Health.
This is general information, not medical advice. Your own pharmacist or doctor can answer questions about a medicine you plan to take.
Sources
A place on this register is not for sale.