On May 18, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health said that recently, the production and trading of drugs, functional foods, milk, and fake medical equipment has become complicated, affecting people's health and safety.
Following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Health has implemented many synchronous solutions such as promoting the review and inspection of business situation, using drugs, milk and functional foods in the area, promulgating documents to enhance the supervision of drug quality and health care products.
In addition, the Department of Health established an interdisciplinary inspection team to conduct a peak period of inspection of pharmaceutical businesses in the area in May 2025. This is a surprise inspection and focuses on high-risk groups such as drug manufacturing establishments, businesses selling medicinal herbs, traditional medicines, functional foods and places with many pharmaceutical businesses.
The Department also directed relevant units such as medical examination and treatment facilities; pharmaceutical businesses; district, town and Thu Duc City Health Departments; City Food, Cosmetic and Drug Testing Centers to strengthen drug business inspection and monitoring of drug quality circulation in the market.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health emphasizes that in the fight against counterfeit goods, the role of the people is extremely important. The city's health sector calls on people to accompany relevant agencies with many practical solutions.
When there is a need for health care products, buy at licensed facilities, do not buy goods of unknown origin, especially goods advertised on social networking platforms.
In addition, it is necessary to report to the authorities when detecting organizations and individuals who produce and trade counterfeit goods of medicine, functional foods, milk, and medical equipment for timely inspection and handling according to regulations.
In 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health inspected 174 drug retail establishments, 344 drug retail establishments, 40 drug retail establishments, and medicinal retail establishments. The unit issued 151 decisions to sanction administrative violations in the health sector, handling 147 facilities with a total fine of VND 7,042,000,000. Common violations are mainly the origin and quality of drugs.
In addition, in districts, the District Health Department, Thu Duc City, the unit inspected 6,750 drug retail establishments in the area. The City's Center for Drug, Food and Cosmetic Testing has taken samples to test the quality of 413 drug samples at 149 facilities, the results of which are 15 samples that are not of good quality.
During the inspection and supervision of pharmaceutical businesses, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health discovered 8 establishments selling fake drugs. Through people's feedback, the Department of Health Inspectorate inspected and discovered a pharmacy selling fake drugs. The unit has filed a case and transferred it to Ho Chi Minh City Police for handling.
