Health Minister Nguyen Quoc Trieu on March 24 signed a decision approving the establishment of the centre to ensure the safe and effective use of drugs.

The centre aims to develop a national database for pharmaceuticals, provide information and consultative services on drugs, undertake scientific research and develop international relations.

Deputy Health Minister Cao Minh Quang said that the laws and regulations governing information on drugs and pharmaceutical safety for the healthcare system are necessary because of the serious adverse reaction among many patients who had taken newly developed drugs.

The adverse reaction from many patients has forced the withdrawal of some drugs soon after they entered the market, he said.

The Ministry of Health says that information and safety measures concerning pharmaceuticals are limited in Vietnam and lack long-term direction.

The limitations stem from many difficulties such as a lack of experienced staff; adequate facilities, databases, policies and procedures.

The Vietnam Drug Administration received more than 2,000 reports of suspected adverse reaction to drugs last year.

Most stemmed from the use of antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs and pain-killers.

Vietnam first established an adverse drug reaction centre in Hanoi with the support of the Swedish International Development Agency in 1994 and another in HCM City in 1997.

The country joined the international network that monitors adverse drug reaction in 1998.