The information that many other hospitals across the country have temporarily suspended consultation and recalled milk products after suspected involvement in the fake milk production line has shown a proactive and highly responsible spirit from the health sector.
Bac Kan General Hospital has proactively stopped consulting on the use of hap hap hap hap milk in treatment departments, and recalled all products to return to suppliers. In case the product is concluded to be counterfeit, the Hospital commits to accompanying the patient to reclaim legitimate rights.
Some hospitals have issued more specific notices, saying that they have contacted patients to work with them to request the supplier to refund the amount of money spent on the product.
This is a necessary and timely handling step, contributing to protecting the rights of patients in the context of no final conclusion from the authorities.
However, if the product is identified as fake milk, the responsibility of the parties involved must be placed within a more strict legal framework.
In this case, the product supplier - even through a legal bidding - must still bear legal responsibility according to regulations.
The act of providing counterfeit goods, especially food and pharmaceuticals used in the medical environment, not only violates business ethics but can also constitute a criminal crime.
According to Article 193 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended in 2017), the act of producing and trading counterfeit goods such as food and food additives can be punished with imprisonment up to 20 years, depending on the nature and extent of the damage.
Moreover, suppliers must also be responsible for comprehensive compensation, not only at refunds, but also including arising medical expenses (if any), mental damage and reputation of medical facilities.
This incident is also a warning for the product censorship process and the selection of suppliers through bidding packages in hospitals.
The fact that products such as hap hap hap hap milk and Hofumil Gold Plus are brought to the hospital through legal packages means that the process is having loopholes.
It is time for hospitals and management agencies to review the criteria for selecting suppliers, strengthen post-inspections and have a clearer mechanism to tie responsibility for companies participating in supplying goods in specific environments such as healthcare.
In areas directly related to human health such as health, any behavior related to counterfeit goods needs to be considered not only from an economic perspective but also from an ethical and legal perspective.
From the perspective of consumers, especially those with weak health, discovering that they may have used fake milk during treatment is not easy to accept. Therefore, the support of hospitals in recovering and refunding patients is timely but only soothes the eyes.
Only the drastic participation of authorities, as well as strict handling of violating units and individuals, can bring long-term confidence to patients and the people.
