Vietnam pharmaceutical e-commerce regulation

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has proposed amendments to the Law on Pharmacy to strengthen the legal framework for online medicine sales. A central component of the draft law is a ban on using livestreaming functions to sell medicines and medicinal ingredients via e-commerce.

The proposal seeks to prohibit online pharmaceutical businesses that do not use direct or intermediary e-commerce platforms, fail to ensure electronic identification of sellers, or lack transaction traceability. These measures aim to control sales on channels where seller identities and product origins are difficult to verify. This follows existing regulations that prohibit the retail sale of prescription drugs and specially controlled medicines through e-commerce starting July 1, 2025.

During a National Assembly session on October 21, 2026, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan presented a draft project involving amendments to six healthcare-related laws. This initiative aims to simplify business investment conditions and enhance the management of medicines and medical equipment. The proposal specifically includes banning medicine sales via livestreaming on e-commerce platforms to ensure traceability and seller accountability.

To combat inflated costs, the government plans to manage medical equipment based on product lifecycles and supply chains while increasing data sharing between health, customs, tax, and insurance sectors. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasized the necessity of eliminating excessive intermediaries that drive up prices, noting that current loopholes allow for circular trading through overseas entities, which artificially inflates costs for patients and the national health insurance fund.