The Ministry of Health said it has received documents from a number of localities and units requesting guidance on handling difficulties in drug bidding after the Bidding Law No. 22/2023/QH15 takes effect. Regarding this content, the Ministry of Health has the following comments, specifically:

On June 23, 2023, the 15th National Assembly passed the Bidding Law No. 22/2023/QH15, effective from January 1, 2024, replacing the Bidding Law No. 43/2013/QH13 dated November 26, 2013, including the Transitional Provisions in Article 96 of the Bidding Law No. 22/2023/QH15.

To implement the Bidding Law No. 22/2023/QH15, the Ministry of Planning and Investment is completing the step of collecting comments from Government members to submit to the Government for promulgation of a Decree detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Bidding Law on contractor selection.

Currently, the Ministry of Health is developing a Circular regulating drug bidding at public health facilities to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Bidding Law No. 22/2023/QH15 and the Decree detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Bidding Law on contractor selection;

Synthesize and inherit relevant contents in the Circulars regulating drug bidding that have been issued.

To ensure compliance with Bidding Law No. 22/2023/QH15, the Ministry of Health recommends that units carefully study Bidding Law No. 22/2023/QH15, in which Clause 1, Article 96 stipulates: "Bidding packages for selecting contractors that have approved and issued invitations for expression of interest, invitations for pre-qualification, invitations for bids, and request documents before the effective date of this Law shall continue to organize shortlisting, contractor selection, signing and contract implementation management in accordance with the provisions of Bidding Law No. 43/2013/QH13 and detailed regulations and implementation instructions".

The Ministry of Health requests that localities and units study and comply with the provisions of the law on bidding and be responsible before the law for their decisions.

During the implementation process, if there are any problems, the units are requested to promptly report to competent authorities for consideration and resolution according to regulations.