HCM City's wholesale medicine markets will be restructured to ensure quality and reduce the number of layers of intermediaries, the city Department of Health has said.
Pham Khanh Phong Lan, its deputy head, said wholesale markets that meet quality standards and function well would remain in operation.
But the markets in districts 1, 11, and 5 would be closed or restricted, she said.
Drug distributors failing to meet Good Distribution Practices (GDP) standards would also be closed down by the end of this year, she said.
GDP standards cover warehouses and other facilities for storing medicine and equipment for their transport.
"More than 70 percent of the 663 distributing companies in the city meet the standards," she said.
Furthermore, all pharmacies in the city will have to meet Good Pharmacy Practices standards by the end of next year, the department has said.
Only 1,000 out of the existing 4,000 do so.
The city would also regulate the operations of the 385 traditional medicine establishments, Lan added./.
Pham Khanh Phong Lan, its deputy head, said wholesale markets that meet quality standards and function well would remain in operation.
But the markets in districts 1, 11, and 5 would be closed or restricted, she said.
Drug distributors failing to meet Good Distribution Practices (GDP) standards would also be closed down by the end of this year, she said.
GDP standards cover warehouses and other facilities for storing medicine and equipment for their transport.
"More than 70 percent of the 663 distributing companies in the city meet the standards," she said.
Furthermore, all pharmacies in the city will have to meet Good Pharmacy Practices standards by the end of next year, the department has said.
Only 1,000 out of the existing 4,000 do so.
The city would also regulate the operations of the 385 traditional medicine establishments, Lan added./.
