Bach Mai Hospital warns of medical scams and mental health risks

Bach Mai Hospital has issued warnings regarding various fraudulent activities targeting patients and their families. Scammers are reportedly using several methods, including posing as relatives of doctors or acquaintances of pharmacists to sell unverified medicinal herbs and ‘miracle drugs’ claimed to cure chronic illnesses or cancer. Other tactics include offering illegal ‘fast-track’ medical services or early test results for a fee, and creating fake social media pages mimicking the hospital to sell functional foods or provide unauthorized paid consultations.

Separately, doctors from the Institute of Mental Health at Bach Mai Hospital have raised concerns regarding the impact of social media on adolescent mental health. Medical professionals noted an increasing trend of teenagers engaging in self-harm and self-injury. Experts highlighted how social media algorithms can trap vulnerable youth in cycles of negative content, such as videos that romanticize loneliness or despair, which can exacerbate academic pressure and social isolation.