On the afternoon of November 11, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan was the second sector commander to answer questions at the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly.
Questioning, delegate Khang Thi Mao (Yen Bai delegation) asked whether it is appropriate for people wearing blue and white shirts claiming to be hospital doctors to advertise functional foods according to regulations or not? If so, how will they be handled?
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that currently, advertisements related to drugs, functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics have fully complied with legal regulations.
The current Advertising Law, which is being amended, as well as the regulations and guidelines for its implementation, clearly stipulate that the use of images of doctors, nurses, and medical facilities for advertising is not permitted. The Penal Code also clearly stipulates the levels of criminal handling if the law on advertising is violated.
Therefore, the Minister affirmed that the use of these images is against regulations. "The Ministry of Health has sent a document to all Departments of Health as well as medical facilities nationwide to remind and request each health sector officer and employee not to participate in advertising that violates regulations" - Minister Dao Hong Lan emphasized.
Raising the question, delegate Duong Tan Quan (Ba Ria - Vung Tau delegation) asked the Minister of Health to clarify the current situation of poor quality functional foods and cosmetics being advertised and sold widely on the market.
What plans does the Ministry of Health have to coordinate with relevant agencies to build a comprehensive monitoring system from production to distribution to ensure quality and prevent violations in the field of functional foods and cosmetics, and what are the solutions in the future?
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that the management of functional foods and pharmaceutical cosmetics on the market has been regulated in the Law on Pharmacy. The provisions of the law are relatively adequate to strengthen the management of this issue.
However, in practice, there are still cases of circumvention of the law to trade in fake functional foods, or exaggerate their effects. The Ministry has also increased control over these products, and reviewed legal regulations to ensure strictness and appropriateness.
