Fear of counterfeit drugs

Thanh Hoa Department of Health's Drug Testing Center tested the fake pharmaceuticals transferred by the police.

It is noteworthy that the production and trade of these counterfeit goods has lasted for many years, especially dozens of fake medicines and health protection foods have been produced and put into circulation.

In order to improve management efficiency, especially to ensure quality, promptly detect, prevent and handle the production and trade of counterfeit goods, especially counterfeit medicines and counterfeit health foods, on April 17, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long signed Official Dispatch No. 41 on handling the case of production and trade of counterfeit medicines and counterfeit health foods. The dispatch requires the Ministry of Health to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in investigating and handling the above-mentioned counterfeit trade case. At the same time, direct localities to immediately review and recall counterfeit medicines and counterfeit health foods that have been discovered, promptly prevent and minimize the harmful effects of using counterfeit medicines and counterfeit health foods.

Regarding this content, on April 18, 2025, Mr. Do Thai Hoa, Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Department of Health said: Immediately after receiving information that Thanh Hoa Provincial Police had broken up a large-scale production and trading ring of fake pharmaceutical drugs nationwide, the leaders of the Department of Health directed functional units to conduct inspections and reviews. Up to now, no counterfeit drug products have been found to be circulating in medical examination and treatment facilities....

Fear of counterfeit drugs

Of the 21 products seized by the police, there were 4 types of fake western medicine: Tetracycline, Clorocid, Pharcoter, Neo-Codion; the remaining 39,323 boxes of 17 types of fake products suspected to be oriental medicine, products with labels stating the intended use as medicine. However, through initial analysis and testing by the Drug Testing Center under the Thanh Hoa Department of Health, most of the content in the fake oriental medicine is pain relievers. When patients buy and take these drugs (mainly for bone and joint diseases), they will feel the pain go away immediately. Therefore, patients will trust and continue to buy fake drugs without any suspicion. Regarding the group of fake western medicine, no toxic properties have been detected yet, but they do not have antibiotic properties as the instructions for use printed on the packaging. To produce the above counterfeit drugs, the subjects bought raw materials such as starch, adhesives, pharmaceutical additives, bamboo charcoal, colorants, etc., then mixed and packaged them into medicine.

According to Mr. Hoa, medicine is a special commodity that directly affects the health and life of patients, so it requires strict management. Products made by counterfeiters cannot enter the public hospital system because they do not have documents or certificates to participate in bidding. These counterfeit products are mainly sold online and at retail channels.

Through this incident, the Thanh Hoa health sector recommends that people stay alert when buying medicine, only buy from reputable, licensed establishments, and not buy drugs floating on social networks. In particular, when buying medicine, people need to proactively look up the origin before buying. When detecting suspicious signs of production and trading of fake drugs, immediately report to the health agency and relevant authorities for handling.

Thai Thanh (Contributor)

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/noi-lo-thuoc-gia-246071.htm