Unlabeled drugs at landfills
As Lao Dong reported, on June 10, from the people's report, the authorities of Lien Chieu District (Da Nang City) discovered hundreds of packages of Cetecocenzitax.
On the afternoon of June 11, speaking with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, the leader of the People's Committee of Hoa Hiep Nam Ward (Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City) said that immediately after receiving the feedback, the authorities conducted an inspection and recorded at the scene a large amount of new drug being thrown away on Xuan Thieu 21 Street.
The ward leader said that according to information provided by the police, the above drugs are owned by Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company 3 (abbreviated as Central Pharmaceutical Company 3 - headquartered in Hai Chau District, Da Nang City).
Informing the press, an employee of Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company 3 confirmed that the medicine discarded belonged to the company and had been recalled and destroyed according to regulations since September 2024.
This person said that because the medicine was aluminum shells, people could pick up bottles at the landfill to sell, but they could not consume them, so they were thrown to Xuan Thieu 21 Street.
Regarding the intact Cetecocenzitax drug that was dumped on the side of the road, on September 6, 2024, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) issued an official dispatch announcing the recall of the Cetecocenzitax tablets (Cinarizin 25mg) of Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company 3 due to not meeting quality standards on quality and quantity.
This company must coordinate with the drug distributor to send a recall notice to wholesale and retail establishments to recall the entire batch of drugs mentioned above.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) requires the Departments of Health of provinces and cities to notify businesses and users of drugs to recall the drug batch that does not meet this quality.
The Da Nang Department of Health must inspect and supervise Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company 3 to recall and handle recalled drugs according to regulations.
Da Nang Department of Health will conduct post-inspections
Speaking to Lao Dong reporter, Doctor Vo Thu Tung - Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Health said that according to the press reports and requests of the Da Nang City Police, the Department of Health quickly sent officers to the scene (Xuan Thieu 21 Street area, Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District) to coordinate with relevant agencies to verify the incident.
At the same time, the Da Nang Department of Health issued Official Letter No. 4134/SYT-NVD dated June 10, 2025, directing Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company 3 to report the entire process of the incident.
According to the Company's report in Official Dispatch No. 339/CT-TW3 dated June 11, 2025, CetecoCenzitax Compressed Medicine (Cinarizin 25mg) manufactured by Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company 3 did not meet quality standards for violating level 3 and was issued by the Drug Administration of Vietnam in Official Dispatch No. 3007/QLD-CL dated September 6, 2023 on nationwide recall.
Accordingly, on September 30, 2024, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health issued a Decision to fine Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company 3 VND 50 million.
The company has destroyed the drugs according to the Unquality Product Handling Procedure issued and approved by the unit on January 28, 2024.
Due to the Company's shortcomings in the process of supervising the destruction, the above incident occurred.
According to Dr. Tung, currently, the Da Nang Department of Health is coordinating with the City Police and the Market Management Department to determine the Company's violation for handling in accordance with regulations. The Da Nang Department of Health also urgently conducts post-inspections of production and business at the Company.
According to Lao Dong, according to Circular 11/2018/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health, the head of a facility with drugs to be destroyed must establish a Drug Cancellation Council of at least 3 people, including 1 person in charge of expertise.
Cancellation of drugs must ensure safety for humans, animals and the environment.
After cancellation, the facility must make a record and send a report to the Department of Health according to the prescribed form. The entire process of processing recalled drugs must be completed within no more than 12 months from the date of recall.
