INTRODUCTION TO THE FACULTY OF PHARMACOLOGY – CLINICAL PHARMACY
Position: The Faculty of Pharmacology – Clinical Pharmacy is an academic unit under Hanoi University of Pharmacy (HUP), operating in accordance with its assigned functions and duties as regulated by the Rector of HUP.
According to Resolution No. 01/NQ-HĐTDHN dated March 12, 2020, of the University Council on the Strategy and Development Plan of Hanoi University of Pharmacy towards 2030, with a vision to 2045, HUP has set the goal of becoming a multi-disciplinary university in the pharmaceutical field following the research-oriented and practice-integrated university model (2025–2030), a leading national center for pharmacy education and research, moving towards an innovation-oriented university by 2030, and ultimately an innovative university by 2045.
Both globally and nationally, there is a growing emphasis on the crucial role of pharmacists in promoting the rational use of medicines. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has issued the “Core Competency Standards for Vietnamese Pharmacists”, which include a specific domain on Rational Drug Use. The Law on Pharmacy (2016) introduced a new chapter regulating clinical pharmacy practice, followed by a Decree guiding clinical pharmacy activities, which came into effect in early 2021. These legal frameworks require pharmacists to undergo specialized education and continuous professional development to ensure their competency in the new era.
In this context, on June 23, 2022, the Rector of Hanoi University of Pharmacy signed Decision No. 486/DHN-QĐ to establish the Faculty of Pharmacology – Clinical Pharmacy by reorganizing three existing departments: the Department of Pharmacodynamics, the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Department of Basic Medical Sciences. These three departments are academically interrelated, sharing a common focus on the rational use of medicines. Although newly established, the predecessor departments have long-standing traditions and have achieved numerous accomplishments in education, research, and community service. They have been honored with the Labor Order, Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister, and many other prestigious awards.
Currently, the Faculty of Pharmacology – Clinical Pharmacy has 29 staff members, including 23 lecturers and 6 technicians. The academic team comprises 5 Associate Professors, 5 PhDs, 1 Specialist Pharmacist Level II, 7 MSc-PhD candidates, and 5 MSc holders, reflecting a strong and high-qualified academic profile.
Since its establishment, the Faculty, aligned with HUP’s educational philosophy — “Quality education and research closely linked with practice, guided by creativity and community service” — has set strategic goals to contribute to the university’s overall mission. These include objectives in education and service provision, scientific research, and technological development, all oriented toward social needs, integration, and globalization.
The Faculty focuses on developing and implementing training programs that help learners achieve the competencies defined in the Core Competency Standards for Vietnamese Pharmacists, particularly those related to Rational Drug Use. Leveraging the strengths of its three founding departments, the Faculty continues to advance academic excellence and scientific research — from basic to applied studies — and provides professional services in line with the development direction of the pharmaceutical sector.
The Faculty inherits and strengthens its existing capabilities in new drug development, especially from biological sources and natural compounds in the preclinical stage (pharmacological and toxicological studies). It also offers scientific services contributing to the development of pharmaceutical products for research partners and domestic enterprises.
In addition, the Faculty serves as a key unit conducting in-depth research on rational drug use, with the integration of information technology, including big data analysis and patient-level drug utilization studies. Research outcomes are expected to inform policy recommendations and support the development of specialized services such as:
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Clinical pharmacy model implementation consulting for hospitals
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Drug use consultation services
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Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) service
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13-10-2025
