Hanoi authorities intensify inspections of traditional medicines

The Hanoi Department of Health has issued a directive to increase inspections and supervision of the circulation, business, and advertising of traditional medicines within the city. This move follows reports from the Ministry of Health's Traditional Medicine Administration regarding the discovery of several networks producing and trading counterfeit drugs.

Authorities are placing particular emphasis on 'An cung nguu hoang hoan' after detecting fraudulent versions of the product. Local authorities, including commune and ward people's committees, are instructed to coordinate with police and market management agencies to prevent smuggling, commercial fraud, and the distribution of medicines with unknown origins.

In addition to physical inspections, the department will increase monitoring of advertisements on social media platforms to crack down on false claims, specifically targeting those that exaggerate product benefits by labeling them as 'miracle drugs for stroke prevention.' Health officials advise citizens to only use such medicines under medical supervision and to purchase them from licensed pharmacies with valid documentation.