Director of Quang Nam Department of Health Mai Van Muoi: "Community responsibility to control fake functional foods and fake drugs"

Director of Quang Nam Department of Health Mai Van Muoi. Photo: LE PHUOC LAN NHI

Reporter: Sir, in the face of the increasing number of cases of production and trade of fake functional foods, fake drugs, and drugs of unknown origin in many places across the country, what actions has the Quang Nam health sector taken to detect and prevent this situation?

Mr. Mai Van Muoi: Since the beginning of the year, the Department of Health has issued many official dispatches directing units in the health sector, establishments producing and trading in medicines and health protection foods, and coordinating with relevant agencies and sectors to resolutely fight against fake milk, fake functional foods, and fake medicines.

At the same time, widely disseminate information and recommendations to people to know the list of fake milk products, fake medicines, fake health protection foods as well as the list of companies producing and distributing these products as announced by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Health.

In addition, the Department established an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect drug manufacturing, wholesale and retail establishments in the province. The teams focused on checking the origin of milk, medicine and health protection foods.

The inspection content also focuses on maintaining compliance with principles and standards of good distribution practice (GDP), good retail practice (GPP); and implementation of regulations on drug price management.

The delegations also noted the inspection of the implementation of legal regulations on pharmaceuticals, food safety and hygiene, cosmetics at production and business establishments and emergency procedures and professional procedures at medical examination and treatment facilities in Quang Nam province.

PV: Recently, there have been many serious cases involving fake milk, fake medicine, fake functional foods, especially fake milk and fake medicine flooding into hospitals. What precautions does the Department of Health have for pharmaceutical businesses to avoid this problem from appearing in Quang Nam, sir?

Mr. Mai Van Muoi: The Department of Health has issued a document directing establishments producing and trading in medicines and health protection foods to strictly comply with the provisions of the law, instructions of the Government, the Ministry of Health and the Provincial People's Committee on pharmaceutical practice; regularly update documents on drug and cosmetic quality management. Inspect and review goods, recall products showing signs of counterfeiting or poor quality (if any), and report to the Department of Health.

Drug manufacturing and wholesale establishments must comply with regulations on drug manufacturing and trading. Absolutely do not supply drugs and drug ingredients to establishments that do not have a certificate of eligibility for pharmaceutical business or that are not within the scope of business in the certificate of eligibility for pharmaceutical business; connect to the interoperable drug management software in accordance with regulations to manage the drug distribution process to establishments.

Drug retail establishments are only allowed to buy and sell drugs that have been granted a circulation registration certificate by the Ministry of Health, have invoices, documents, and clear origin, in accordance with regulations; sell drugs according to prescriptions, connect to interoperable drug software according to regulations on drug retail.

The Health Department Inspectorate coordinates with the Provincial Police, People's Committees of districts, towns and cities to establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect and handle when there are signs of counterfeit drugs; recall detected counterfeit products; strictly handle violations according to the law.

A food safety inspection team led by the Department of Health inspected a nutritional food store in Hoi An. Photo: LAN NHI

PV: The fight against counterfeit goods, dirty food, control of fake functional foods and fake drugs is only truly effective when there is synchronous coordination between health, police, market management, local authorities and especially the vigilance of the people. What do you think about this issue?

Mr. Mai Van Muoi: That's right, controlling fake functional foods and fake drugs is only truly effective when the whole society participates. Because this work is very important, long-term, must be done regularly, comprehensively, continuously, and without stopping, the health sector alone cannot control everything. Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize the participation of Party committees, local authorities at all levels and the people to solve the root of the problem.

Thereby, it is possible to effectively fight, prevent, repel, and eventually end smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, creating trust for people and businesses and protecting the legitimate interests of consumers. Effectively implementing this is also protecting security, for the safety and health of the people, contributing to the country's rapid and sustainable development.

Thank you!

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/giam-doc-so-y-te-quang-nam-mai-van-muoi-cong-dong-trach-nhiem-kiem-soat-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-gia-thuoc-gia-3155336.html