During the peak month, 17 pharmaceutical and cosmetic establishments were discovered violating regulations.

Photo caption

Discarded medicines and functional foods. Illustration photo: VNA

According to the report on the results of the peak month of fighting, preventing and repelling smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights, implementing the Government's Official Dispatch No. 65, the Drug Administration of Vietnam ( Ministry of Health ) has established 5 surprise inspection teams at 38 facilities.

Of the inspected establishments, 17 were found to have violated the law. Specifically, in the pharmaceutical sector, 7 establishments were found to have violated the law, including 2 business units and 5 drug manufacturing establishments. One establishment had its production suspended due to only meeting low-level GMP (good manufacturing practice) standards.

The Drug Administration also requested the destruction of 841 tubes of Milgamma N that did not meet quality standards due to improper storage conditions, and requested the destruction of two batches of semi-finished products used in health protection foods that did not meet standards.

A traditional medicine manufacturing facility was recommended to review the scope of its license due to production line shutdown and lack of equipment compared to the time of assessment.

In the cosmetics sector, 9 establishments were found to have violated regulations, mainly related to the production, advertising and declaration of products that were not in accordance with registered records.

The Drug Administration has revoked the "good manufacturing practice for cosmetics" certificate of EBC Company (Dong Nai) and temporarily stopped receiving registration applications of VB Group Company ( Ho Chi Minh City).

Also according to the Drug Administration, reports from 20 provinces and cities said that localities have inspected a total of 865 establishments producing, importing and trading drugs and cosmetics. Thereby, 48 establishments were found to be in violation with a total administrative fine of 534 million VND; many Departments of Health are continuing to consolidate records to strictly handle violations according to regulations.

According to the incomplete report of the Department of Health on the implementation results of the peak month, in 20 provinces and cities, 865 establishments producing, importing and trading drugs and cosmetics were inspected. 48 establishments were found to be in violation and administrative fines for the violators were imposed at VND534 million. Currently, the Department of Health is continuing to consolidate records to handle the violating units according to regulations.

Regarding the results of market inspection and monitoring of the Testing System; during the peak month, the Hanoi Drug, Cosmetic and Food Testing Center discovered 2 drug retail establishments selling fake drugs, drugs of unknown origin: Duc Anh Pharmacy bought and sold drugs of unknown origin, smuggled drugs and fake drugs (7 drugs including fake Nexium); An An Pharmacy bought and sold fake Theophylline extended-release tablets. Currently, the authorities are continuing to trace the origin of these drugs.

According to the assessment of the Drug Administration, establishments producing and trading drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients have strictly complied with quality control procedures. However, the situation of selling drugs without invoices and of unknown origin still occurs in some pharmacies.

In particular, counterfeit goods in the medical field are still concentrated in functional foods and health protection foods, which have high consumption and are less closely monitored than prescription drugs.

Faced with this situation, the Drug Administration proposed that the Ministry of Health and related ministries and sectors propose many synchronous solutions, including amending the law to tighten the management of advertising and trading of drugs and cosmetics on social networks and e-commerce platforms.

Strengthening inspection, post-audit and using technology to trace product origin (such as blockchain, identification codes) are also considered key solutions.

Along with that, the authorities will continue to train and improve the capacity of inspectors and testers; launch a communication campaign to help people distinguish between real and fake products; require hospitals, doctors and pharmacists not to participate in false advertising and strictly handle violations.

At the same time, the Department also proposed to summarize and draw lessons from the peak month of the fight against counterfeit drugs and cosmetics; continue to promote advantages and promptly correct existing problems. The fight against counterfeit drugs and cosmetics must be considered a central and continuous activity.

News and People Newspaper

Source: https://kontumtv.vn/tin-tuc/van-hoa-the-thao/trong-thang-cao-diem-co-17-co-so-duoc-my-pham-vi-pham-duoc-phat-hien