Speaking at the association’s congress on August 10, he warned about the persistent issues of non-prescription drug sales, self-medication, and antibiotic overuse. Research published in the Vietnam Medical Journal in 2021 showed that in treating multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections at a provincial hospital, 35.8% of initial antibiotic regimens were inappropriate. Most patients (64.9%) had their treatment changed after receiving antibiogram results due to poor improvement or worsening conditions.

Overcrowding in medical facilities, a lack of microbiological testing equipment, and a shortage of trained microbiology and clinical pharmacy staff contribute to the severity of antibiotic resistance. This makes empirical antibiotic selection more difficult, with higher failure rates, costlier treatment, and longer hospital stays.

Globally, antibiotic resistance is one of the most serious health threats, projected to cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. In Vietnam, the situation is already at alarming levels. Associate Professor Truyen stressed the urgent need to strengthen hospital pharmacy and clinical pharmacy activities nationwide.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen urged hospital pharmacists to ensure safe, rational, and legal medication use, helping patients access effective treatment without misuse or misprescription. He also called for resource allocation and staffing adjustments tailored to each facility’s needs.

Dr. Cao Hung Thai, President of the Vietnam Hospital Pharmacists Association for 2025–2030, said the association will organize training to enhance management and technical capacity, develop clinical pharmacy guidelines, propose them for official adoption, and explore AI applications in medication management.

Vo Thu