Checking milk after the discovery of counterfeit goods in the hospital
On April 19, Dr. Ha Anh Duc - Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) said that the appearance of milk products imported by fake milk companies into some medical facilities is an issue that poses a risk of directly affecting the health of patients.
The Ministry of Health requires hospitals to review all milk use, including the time of starting, the users, and ensure that patients who have used the product can be traced back. If there are any health problems arising related to milk, the medical facility must be responsible for consulting and supporting the patient.
Regarding the responsibility for prescribing, the leader of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management affirmed: The Ministry of Health has very clear prescription regulations. If the doctor violates, depending on the severity, he will be subject to administrative sanctions, and even criminal prosecution if the violation is serious.
It is expected that early next week, the Ministry of Health will issue a document requesting hospital directors to seriously grasp the implementation of the prescription, drug sales and service delivery process. "The Ministry's viewpoint is to strictly handle, not have forbidden areas, and not cover up violations if discovered by authorities" - Mr. Duc reaffirmed.
According to him, the latest regulations issued in 2024 have updated the list of techniques related to clinical nutrition, contributing to standardizing instructions for doctors in consulting, prescribing and supporting nutritional treatment.
In developed countries, clinical nutrition is valued and implemented systematically. Vietnam is behind but is trying to complete the guidance framework to approach international standards" - Mr. Duc said.
Counterfeit milk enters hospitals, management loopholes
Bac Kan General Hospital and 108 Central Military Hospital have discovered and recalled hap hap hap hap and Hofumil Gold Plus milk products supplied by companies under investigation. Although the bidding process complied with regulations, the hospital proactively stopped consulting and recalled products to ensure the safety of patients.
From August 2021 to present, the subjects have established Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company and Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company to produce and trade powdered milk.
To date, 573 brands of powdered milk of all kinds have been produced. Milk is for people with diabetes, kidney failure, premature birth, premature birth and pregnant women. The assessment results showed that many quality indicators reached below 70% compared to the announcement. In 4 years, this group has sold nearly 500 billion VND worth of milk to the market.
The reason is determined from the post-inspection loophole: the enterprise self-declared its quality, while testing encountered difficulties due to high costs and lack of regulations requiring periodic inspection.
The Ministry of Health recommends being vigilant against health protection foods that are advertised as untrue, promising to treat diseases, using doctor's face or lacking mandatory warnings.
- Not a drug: Health protection foods only support enhancing body function, do not replace medicine. If there is a disease, it is necessary to examine and treat it at a medical facility.
- Only use licensed products: Only buy products with a Certificate of Receipt of Product Declaration issued by the Department of Food Safety.
- Carefully check product labels, including: Product name, date of manufacture, expiry date; Ingredients, Uses, subjects of use; Cronings "Health protection foods" and "Not a drug, not a substitute for medicine"; Product declaration number, advertising confirmation number (if any); Name, address of the responsible unit.
- Be careful with advertising: Avoid believing in false advertising content such as "drinking from illness", images introduced by doctors, no mandatory warnings. Signs of violations have been published by the Department of Food Safety on the Department's website.
