On June 3, 2025, the Department of Health of Tien Giang province issued Official Letter No. 2376/SYT-NVYD to medical examination and treatment facilities, the Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Center for Testing Drugs - Cosmetics - Food and pharmaceutical businesses in the area, to warn about the circulation of fake drugs and drugs of unknown origin.
This move aims to implement Official Dispatch No. 1444/QLD-CL dated May 29, 2025 of the Department of Drug Administration (Ministry of Health), related to the discovery of 7 batches of drugs without information about the registration number for circulation (GDKLH), import license (GPNK), production facility and import facility.
According to the Drug Administration, the violating drug lots are currently being sold at Duc Anh Pharmacy (under Duc Anh Medical Equipment Pharmaceutical Company Limited, address 8: Huynh Thuc Khang Dai Street, Lang Thuong Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi).
Specifically, the drug lots discovered include: Janumet 50/1000mg (Sitagliptin/ met met metformin) Batch number 24497505A, expiration date 7.2026; Plavix (lopidogrel) Batch number ELB04027, expiration date 5.2027; Nexium 40mg Enteriklilet Pellet tabletoptop (esomeprazole) Batch number 23H420, expiration date 9.2027; Crestor 10mg (Rosuvastatin) Batch number A24236004, expiration date 7.2027; An unknown drug Batch number 2337030, expiration date 4.2026.
Details of the other two drug lots have not been announced.
Facing this serious incident, the Drug Administration of Vietnam asked the Hanoi Department of Health to coordinate with the police, the market management force and the 389 Steering Committee of the city urgently inspected and traced the source of drugs at Duc Anh Pharmacy. At the same time, it is required to strictly handle violations as prescribed and report results before 2.6.2025.
The Department also requested the Departments of Health of provinces and cities to widely inform people and businesses using drugs about the 7 batches of drugs of unknown origin; at the same time, absolutely recommend not to use or trade the above products.
In Tien Giang, the Department of Health has directed the Department of Health Education Communication (under CDC Tien Giang) to step up propaganda on mass media, coordinate with press agencies to promptly warn people and drug businesses.
It is recommended that people only buy medicine at a facility with a legal license, carefully check the information on the packaging such as the batch number, expiration date, and origin. Absolutely do not use drugs of unknown origin. When detecting suspicions about fake drugs or drugs of unknown origin, it is necessary to immediately report to the health agency or authorities for timely handling.
The Department of Drug Administration emphasizes that strict compliance with legal regulations on pharmaceuticals is a mandatory requirement to protect public health. Any violations will be strictly handled according to current regulations.
