Ministry of Health takes strong action to regulate traditional medicine of unknown origin

Accordingly, the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management ( Ministry of Health ) has established two surprise inspection teams to implement Official Dispatch No. 65/CD-TTg dated May 15, 2025 of the Prime Minister on launching a peak period to combat, prevent and repel smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods and infringement of intellectual property rights in this field.

Illustration photo.

Two inspection teams will conduct surprise inspections at establishments producing, trading, importing, exporting and distributing medicinal herbs, traditional medicines and traditional medicines nationwide.

The inspections will focus on compliance with legal regulations, especially the control of origin, provenance and quality of products. At the same time, the delegations will also inspect traditional medicine clinics to detect and strictly handle illegal practices, prescriptions and use of drugs of unknown origin.

Along with the inspection activities, the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management has sent a document to the Department of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities, requesting to increase inspections and surprise checks of traditional medicine facilities.

The Departments of Health are required to closely coordinate with the police and market management forces in tracing the origin of medicinal herbs and traditional medicines circulating in the area. Any violations of business conditions, use of raw materials that do not ensure quality or are of unknown origin will be strictly handled according to the law.

Notably, the Ministry of Health also specifically emphasized the need to tighten the management of information and advertising activities in the field of traditional medicine. Health Departments need to review and strictly handle acts of false advertising, exaggerating product effects, providing information that has no scientific basis or has not been verified.

In addition, the Department requested relevant units to coordinate with the Department of Science and Technology to disseminate and request scientists and practitioners to sign a commitment not to provide false information about the product. Violators will be held responsible before the law.

To serve the inspection work under the direction of the Government, the Departments of Health need to compile and report the list of traditional medicine clinics and treatment rooms in the area before May 23, 2025. At the same time, all results of the implementation of inspection activities and handling of violations must be reported to the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management before June 19, 2025 for compilation and submission to the Ministry's leaders.

The strong move from the Ministry of Health shows the determination of the health sector in improving the efficiency of management and protection of people's health, and is also a warning to organizations and individuals who are violating the field of traditional medicine.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/bo-y-te-manh-tay-chan-chinh-thuoc-co-truyen-khong-ro-nguon-goc-d288381.html