Fake milk in hospital: Correcting the situation of prescribing milk and functional foods at medical facilities

The document of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management emphasized that recently, the medical examination and treatment management work of the Ministry of Health and the media have reflected the situation of medical staff advising and instructing patients and their families to use milk produced by enterprises involved in the fake milk ring. In addition, the authorities have discovered the production and trade of fake drugs on a large scale.

Fake milk entering hospitals is a concern for patients.

To ensure that medical examination and treatment strictly comply with regulations and ensure the rights and safety of patients, the Ministry of Health requests that units implement regulations on prescription, indication, and use of drugs.

Accordingly, the units will review, check, and compare the list of drugs and drugs used in medical facilities with counterfeit drugs that have been investigated and detected by the authorities. At the same time, measures will be taken to handle violations according to regulations if violations are detected. Medical facilities will review and check the prescription of drugs containing non-medicinal products such as milk, functional foods, etc. to promptly correct them.

The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management also requires increased inspection, supervision, and rectification if the following acts are detected: Prescribing and indicating the use of drugs that have not been licensed for circulation according to the provisions of the law on pharmaceuticals.

Prescribing drugs, ordering technical services, medical equipment, suggesting patients to transfer to other medical facilities or engaging in other acts for profit. Practitioners selling drugs in any form - Taking advantage of prescribing drugs for profit.

Advertising drugs without the content being confirmed by a competent state management agency or inconsistent with the confirmed content.

Regarding the consumption of non-medicinal products such as milk, functional foods, etc., units need to inspect and review the medical staff's consultation, introduction, and sale of milk products, functional foods, especially fake milk products that have been investigated and discovered by the investigation agency.

Facilities must review and ensure nutrition activities in hospitals according to regulations of the Ministry of Health. “Inspecting and supervising the information, advertising, marketing, prescription, consultation, labeling, and instructions for use of non-medicinal products with the content of being used for disease prevention, treatment, diagnosis, treatment, alleviation of disease, and adjustment of physiological functions of the human body; advertising beyond the scope of practice or beyond the scope of professional activities approved by competent authorities; taking advantage of medical knowledge to falsely advertise medical examination and treatment,” the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management requested.

When detecting violations, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management requests that facilities handle them strictly and absolutely not cover up or tolerate violations.

Regarding the medical facility, regarding the case of more than 600 fake milk products discovered in a recently dismantled criminal ring, the 108 Central Military Hospital announced the recall of fake milk and refunds to patients;

Bach Mai Hospital has urgently conducted a review of the entire supply chain and hospital pharmacies. Initial results show that no products related to this counterfeit network have been discovered. However, the hospital's leadership is still continuing to cross-check and review whether or not doctors and pharmacists have participated in advertising or assisting in the promotion of functional food products or milk of unknown origin.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, for the past 3 years, the hospital has completely stopped selling functional foods in pharmacies, and strictly prohibits doctors from consulting, prescribing or introducing functional foods to patients, even in the form of external introductions.

“We consider nutrition as part of treatment, and are conducting clinical control in an individualized manner. Each patient has their own menu built according to their physical condition, closely controlling each meal, each gram of sugar, protein, and fat. That is how Bach Mai controls input instead of just dealing with external risks,” said Mr. Co.

The Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) also issued a document confirming that doctors, pharmacists and medical staff participating in advertising food and functional foods is a violation of the law, and at the same time requested medical units to rectify and strictly handle the case.

The Ministry of Health's official dispatch cited Clause 2, Article 27 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP of the Government , clearly stating: "Do not use images, equipment, costumes, names, correspondence of medical units, facilities, doctors, pharmacists, medical staff, thank you letters from patients, articles of doctors, pharmacists, medical staff to advertise food."

This means that any form of advertising for functional foods that involves the appearance, endorsement, or “guarantee” of medical staff is strictly prohibited.

This behavior not only violates the law but also damages the reputation, professional ethics and social responsibility of the medical industry, and creates harmful misunderstandings for consumers, especially those who are vulnerable to health problems.

Implementing the Prime Minister's direction in Directive No. 17/CT-TTg dated May 9, 2017 on strengthening the management of food advertising activities, the Ministry of Health requires hospitals, research institutes, medical and pharmaceutical training facilities, associations and professional associations to notify all cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers, including retirees, about the above prohibition.

At the same time, units need to proactively review, conduct internal inspections, detect and promptly handle violations within their authority or report to competent authorities for handling, and send a report of the results to the Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/vu-sua-gia-vao-benh-vien-chan-chinh-tinh-trang-ke-don-sua-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-tai-co-so-y-te-d270608.html