The Ministry of Health has said it will give priority to drug retailers who have adopted Good Pharmacy Practices (GPP) while awarding tenders for supplying drugs to national medical programs and public hospitals.
To meet GPP standards, drugstores must meet several criteria -- they must have a minimum area of 10 sq.m and facilities to preserve drugs as indicated on their labels.
Truong Quoc Cuong, head of the Drugs Control Department, also said his department would stop issuing licenses to importers who had recently increased prices without getting approval from the drug regulator.
But the Government would consider a more flexible regime if there is a scarcity in the market and prices rise again, he assured.
The drugs watchdog would allow enterprises to adjust prices based on exchange rates, he said.
