Message from President Sindhchai of PAT (Thailand) Regards to the Late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej for 2016 FAPA Congress
October 17, 2016Separation of Dispensing and Prescribing Practices (SDP)
February 25, 2017FAPA to Strengthen Ties in Vietnam
FAPA President Mr. Joseph Wang visited Ho Chi Minh last January 23, 2017, to meet with officers of the Vietnamese Pharmaceutical Association (VPA). The objective of the meeting was to strengthen ties between VPA and FAPA by gathering information on the situation of the Pharmacy Profession in Vietnam and sharing the current initiatives of FAPA.
Updates from Vietnam
VPA is expected to have a turnover of leadership with their elections set this 2017. In addition, the New Pharmacy Law in Vietnam has recently been passed and is in its first year of implementation, replacing the law which was last amended in 2005.
Some of the notable changes brought about by the new pharmacy law includes the following:
- Reduction of the required years of experience, from five (5) to two (2) years, before pharmacists can open their own community pharmacy.
- Allowing the sale of selected OTC in supermarkets
- Vietnam government now allows foreigners to own 100% shares of pharmaceutical manufacturing corporations
- Stricter implementation of Separation of Dispensing and Prescribing Practices (SDP) starting 2017. Pharmacies cannot dispense ethical drugs without prescription.
L-R: Director Suyu, FAPA President Mr. Joseph Wang, VPA Vice Presidents Mr. Van Dinh and Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, TPA Officers: President Mr. Jimmy Chang, International Affairs Director Mr. Son and Mr. Quang.
Gearing up for Collaboration with FAPA
VPA is seeking for more ways to actively collaborate with FAPA and are currently supporting FAPA’s existing initiatives. They have helped in promoting the 2016 FAPA AMR, which was supported by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office. FAPA and VPA is working on translating the winning entries from other countries into the local language to promote awareness on AMR.
The delegate from the 2016 International Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) Training Program in Taiwan is also currently disseminating the lessons to Vietnamese students.
VPA is eager to promote attendance and active participation in the upcoming FAPA Congress in 2018 in Manila and 2020 in Hong Kong. Other FAPA meetings and events where VPA will participate includes the upcoming Forum on the Separation of Dispensing and Prescribing Practices (SDP) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 12-13, 2017
