A new legal framework for administrative sanctions in the healthcare sector (Decree 90/2026/ND-CP) will officially take effect on May 15, 2026. This regulation focuses on enhancing the accountability of medical professionals throughout the entire process, from diagnosis and prescription to drug dispensing.
The specific categories of violations and penalties include:
-
Professional errors (Fines from 1 – 2 million VND): Applicable to negligence in medical record keeping; failure to cross-check drug names, dosages, expiry dates, or patient information during dispensing; inadequate recording of dispensing times; or delays in reporting adverse drug reactions.
-
Prescription violations (Fines from 10 – 20 million VND): Targeted at prescribing medication that is inconsistent with the patient’s diagnosis and actual condition; including non-prescribable products in prescriptions; or prescribing contrary to official treatment guidelines and the national drug formulary.
-
Product quality violations (Fines from 20 – 30 million VND): The highest penalty is reserved for selling or dispensing expired pharmaceuticals, recalled drugs, products of unknown origin, or items stored improperly according to label instructions.
Notably, in addition to financial penalties, violators face a 1-to-3-month suspension of their professional practice certificates. In cases where errors adversely affect health, the responsible individual or medical facility must cover all incurred treatment costs for the patient.
Experts believe that these stringent sanctions will motivate healthcare facilities to standardize internal procedures and integrate technology into pharmaceutical management to minimize medical risks for the public.