Long Châu signs strategic partnership with Sandoz and Ho Chi Minh City Respiratory Society to promote antibiotic stewardship in Vietnam

On 14 April, Long Châu’s network of pharmacies and vaccination centers signed a strategic partnership with global pharmaceutical group Sandoz and the Ho Chi Minh City Respiratory Society. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to raising awareness and promoting adherence to antibiotic treatment in the community, with the aim of supporting a healthier Vietnam.

Partnership milestone and focus on antibiotics

The event was described as a milestone in collaboration among the participating units, centered on sustainable patient care and expanding community access to antibiotics through the role of pharmacists and a modern pharmacy network nationwide. The initiative combines global expertise from Sandoz, clinical expertise from the Ho Chi Minh City Respiratory Society, and Long Châu’s nationwide network of 2,500 pharmacies.

Awareness program and patient counseling

To promote safe medicine use, Long Châu, Sandoz and the Ho Chi Minh City Respiratory Society launched a program to expand initial health touchpoints and digital platforms that disseminate accurate medical information to the public. The medical team and pharmacists provide counseling and support to help patients understand and comply with antibiotic treatment.

Training and clinical guidance

In parallel, the partnership includes programs to upgrade the professional capacity of healthcare staff. Training will focus on updating clinical knowledge of infectious respiratory diseases, standardizing pharmaceutical practice, improving counseling skills, and supporting community adherence to antibiotic treatment. The Ho Chi Minh City Respiratory Society will provide clinical guidelines to ensure scientific accuracy across educational materials and help translate scientific evidence into practical, accessible guidance. Long Châu and Sandoz will coordinate to ensure the programs run smoothly with broad participation of healthcare professionals.

Statements from participating leaders

Charaf Eddine Kadri, General Director of Sandoz Vietnam, said: “At Sandoz, we believe that better treatment outcomes start not only with access to medicines but also with understanding and supporting patients. Through this partnership, we will strengthen the role of pharmacists, better supporting patients throughout treatment, and contributing meaningful value to Vietnam’s health system.”

Peter Stenico, President of the International Division at Sandoz, said: “Such multi-party collaborations show that global expertise and domestic networks can combine to make a tangible difference for patients and communities. We are proud to support initiatives that raise awareness, boost adherence, and contribute to better outcomes.”

Scale of the network and rollout plan

Looking ahead, the community initiative will be rolled out nationwide through programs, the pharmacy network, and digital platforms. Long Châu and Sandoz aim to build a more integrated health ecosystem centered on the public, improving access to medicines and reliable health information.

Long Châu currently serves over 33 million people through more than 2,500 pharmacies and 200 vaccination centers. The company said it remains committed to delivering high-quality, transparent and safe healthcare, partnering with domestic and international collaborators to implement activities that prevent disease and improve community health.

Attendees

• Prof. Dr. Tran Van Ngoc — President of the Ho Chi Minh City Respiratory Society
• Peter Stenico — President of the International Division at Sandoz
• Charaf Eddine Kadri — General Director of Sandoz Vietnam
• Ms. Nguyen Do Quyen — Deputy General Director of FPT Retail and CEO of Long Châu’s Pharmacy and Vaccination Center
• Leaders from the participating units and media