How to avoid buying fake drugs?

Information on 21 types of counterfeit drugs with hundreds of thousands of products has been released to the market over the past years, but has not reached public hospitals and is mainly in the retail drug system. This shows that there are countless patients who have bought counterfeit drugs and used them without knowing.

Mr. Ta Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Drug Administration Department ( Ministry of Health ) recommends that people should proactively look up the origin of drugs before buying. At the same time, Mr. Hung also guides how to check to know if the drug they intend to buy is real or fake.

How to look up information on registration numbers and licensed drug labels:

Step 1: Access the online public service system of the Department of Drug Administration, Drug Registration section, look up the registration number, at the address:

https://dichvucong.dav.gov.vn/congbothuoc/index

Step 2: Look up drug registration papers and drug ingredients circulating in Vietnam, enter information about the drug you want to find (can look up by drug name, manufacturing facility, registration facility, drug circulation registration number, ...)

- Select "Search registration number" section.

- Fill in all information: Registration number ( VD-…, VN-…, QLSP-…) or drug name ( Paracetamol, Augmentin,… )

-Click the "Search" button to display the results.

How to look up medicine

Step 3: Compare and check the results, the System will provide:

- Full information about the drug in the columns of drug name, registration number, dosage form, active ingredient, content, registration and manufacturing facility;

- See the sample label and instructions for use of the drug approved by the Drug Administration in the column INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE/LABEL SAMPLE.

If the search results show the above information, the drug has been licensed for circulation. On the contrary, if the search results do not show the above information, it can be determined that the drug has not been licensed for circulation, and this may be a counterfeit drug.

The fake drug shipment was just destroyed by Thanh Hoa province police.

Experience to avoid buying fake drugs

You should only buy medicine at reputable places such as licensed pharmacies, drugstores with reputation and clear address. Do not buy from unclear sources such as markets, street vendors or through social networking sites, livestreams...

When buying, you need to check the packaging and information on the medicine box : The packaging must be intact, not torn, blurred or showing signs of being edited; check information such as: medicine name, batch number, production date, expiry date, registration number, manufacturer name. This information must be clear, not erased.

Compare with the original packaging (if available) to detect differences in color, printing, or logo; observe the color, size, and symbols on the pill and medicine box. If there is a difference from the previous use or from the original description, do not use.

Use a barcode/QR code scanner app to check product information (if there is a barcode/QR code printed on the box, the code cannot be scanned or the information does not match, be suspicious).

Request invoices and documents : When buying medicine, request a purchase invoice to ensure the origin. The invoice is also the basis for a complaint if counterfeit medicine is detected.

Beware of unusual prices : Counterfeit drugs are often sold at unusually low prices to attract buyers. If the price is too low compared to the market, be cautious.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam reminds people to find information from official sources : Look up drug information on the website of the Drug Administration of Vietnam (dav.gov.vn) or reputable websites of manufacturers. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before buying. For prescription drugs, only buy drugs with a doctor's prescription.

In particular , we need to be careful with drugs sold online , as recommended by the drug administration agency :

From July 1, 2025, when Law No. 44/2024 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Pharmacy comes into effect, a number of new drugs (non-prescription drugs) will be traded (retailed) via e-commerce on e-commerce trading floors, e-commerce sales applications, and e-commerce sales websites with online ordering functions.

After July 1, 2025, in case of buying medicine online, only buy medicine on websites licensed to sell medicine online; do not buy through social networking platforms or individual sellers of unknown identity.

Avoid buying medicine based on advertisements : Avoid believing in advertisements for "miracle drugs" or medicines of unknown origin sold online or by word of mouth.

Report if in doubt : If you detect signs of counterfeit drugs, immediately report to the authorities such as the Department of Health , the Drug Administration or the local police for handling. If you have purchased counterfeit drugs, stop using them immediately and contact a medical facility for advice. Using counterfeit drugs can cause serious health risks.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/lam-the-nao-de-tranh-mua-phai-thuoc-gia-post873517.html