National pharmaceutical trading centre launched

According Resolution No. 112/NQ-CP issued by the Government on December 30, 2016 on the establishment of the national pharmaceutical trading centre, the facility will work under the Ministry of Health and be responsible for tenders for drugs and drug price negotiations in accordance with law.

Nguyen Tri Dung, an official from the ministry’s department of finance and planning was appointed as director of the centre.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the government had permitted medical establishments to work directly with drug suppliers in tendering and price negotiations which caused price differences between medical establishments as well as regions.

The launch of the centre will help change the way the drug prices are decided, she noted, adding that the tendering will be conducted at three levels – national, provincial and unit levels to put forth reference ceiling and floor prices.

The prices of expensive and proprietary drugs will be determined through negotiations, she said.

The minister hoped that the centre will help better manage the drug prices.