Health news on November 13: Hanoi discovers many food safety violations
Recently, Hanoi authorities have continuously discovered violations of food safety and have taken measures to handle them.
Hanoi discovers many food safety violations
According to Dang Thanh Phong, Head of the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Department (Hanoi Department of Health), the city currently has more than 72,000 food production, trading and processing establishments; of which the health sector manages about 39,000 establishments.
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| Authorities check food safety at a supermarket. |
At this time, the city's authorities have increased inspection, examination, supervision, and post-inspection of food hygiene and safety at food production and trading establishments, catering services, street food, collective kitchens, etc. Thereby, gradually raising awareness of producers, traders, and consumers.
Recently, the Hanoi Department of Health Inspectorate inspected the 555 Vinegar Dipped Beef facility (located at 138A Giang Vo Ward, Ba Dinh District).
At the time of the inspection, the inspection team discovered that this establishment was providing food services without a certificate of food safety. In response to the above violation, the Hanoi Department of Health Inspectorate issued a decision to fine the owner of the 555 Vinegar Dipped Beef business 12.5 million VND.
Similarly, at the time of inspection, the Hanoi Department of Health Inspectorate discovered that the World of Seafood Import-Export Joint Stock Company (located at 06/H1 Yen Hoa - Cau Giay New Urban Area, Yen Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District) did not comply with the legal regulations on the 3-step food inspection regime (including: Checking the origin of raw materials; checking during processing and before use).
In addition, the inspection team also discovered that this facility did not comply with regulations on food sample storage. For the above violations, the Department of Health Inspectorate decided to fine the facility 16 million VND.
Faced with the increasing trend of trading and consuming products of unknown origin at the end of the year, in just the past week, the Hanoi Market Management force has launched an inspection, examination and discovered and seized nearly 70,000 bottles of bird's nest without labels, without instructions for use and more than 1.6 tons of pig's feet without invoices or documents proving their origin.
The fact that authorities have continuously discovered and seized large quantities of unsafe food has sounded the alarm about the importance of food inspection, testing and quality control.
Clinic fined over 100 million VND for extorting money from patients
August General Clinic and Saigon Medical Clinic were each fined more than 100 million VND after scaring patients on the abortion table.
Specifically, the Thang Tam General Clinic, located on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, was fined VND106 million and had its medical examination and treatment license revoked for 4 months, according to the penalty decision announced by the Inspectorate of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health on November 12.
The Department of Health determined that this place provided medical examination and treatment services beyond its licensed expertise, and kept a medical examination and treatment book but did not fully record them according to regulations. A nurse here was fined 35 million VND and had her practice certificate revoked for 23 months for providing medical examination and treatment beyond her expertise.
Previously, an 18-week pregnant woman came to this clinic and was given two unknown "abortion" pills. The next day, she received an injection and had her fetus removed, costing 10 million VND.
During the examination, the doctor informed that the fetus was large and therefore a difficult case, requiring the use of the “painless package” service and requested an additional 65 million VND. Because they did not have enough money, the patient’s family called the Department of Health for help, and was rescued by the authorities, who took the patient to Tu Du Hospital for emergency treatment on October 29.
For similar violations, Saigon Medical Clinic, located at Nguyen Van Cu, Ward 2, District 5, was fined VND109 million and had its medical license revoked for four months. The person in charge of the practice also had his practice certificate revoked for two months.
Previously, a 32-year-old woman, 10 weeks pregnant, came here for a check-up and was prescribed medical abortion pills, but her medical record stated "pregnancy maintenance with Obimin".
After two days, the patient returned for a check-up and was prescribed an abortion, but the facility did not record the patient’s medical records or sign a prior commitment. On the operating table, the staff forced the patient to pay an additional VND17 million “otherwise it would be very painful.” The patient’s family called the Department of Health for help on October 24, providing evidence of the “fake illness” conversation.
Last September, this clinic was fined VND202 million and suspended for four months for “faking illnesses, extorting money” and providing medical examination and treatment services beyond the scope of expertise stated in its license.
At that time, the 37-year-old woman also agreed to a two-million-dong abortion package, but during the procedure, the doctor there asked her to pay 29 million dong to continue, "otherwise she would bleed a lot and be in a lot of pain."
The Department of Health recommends that when seeking medical treatment, people should look up the website tracuu.khambenh.gov.vn to know the techniques that the clinic has approved and to know the doctors practicing at the clinic.
When suspecting that a clinic is operating without a license or that a doctor is practicing beyond the permitted scope, call the hotline 0989401155 or report via the "Online Medical" application so that the Department of Health Inspectorate can promptly grasp the information and conduct a surprise inspection.
Hospitalized for seafood allergy
Recently, Vietnam - Sweden Uong Bi Hospital (Quang Ninh) treated a 12-year-old patient (residing in Hai Duong) who was hospitalized due to an allergic rash all over his body after eating a sea cucumber.
According to the family, a few hours after eating the sea cucumber, the child felt itchy all over and had a red rash all over his body. The family gave the child allergy medicine, but the symptoms became more and more severe, so they took the child to the hospital.
It is known that the patient had no history of allergies. The patient was admitted to the Pediatrics Department with a mild fever, red rash all over the body, and severe itching. Doctors examined, diagnosed grade I anaphylaxis, and treated according to the protocol. After treatment, the patient's condition gradually stabilized and is being monitored and treated at the Pediatrics Department.
According to doctors at Vietnam - Sweden Uong Bi Hospital, in cases of mild allergies, children feel itchy, symptoms disappear after a few hours without treatment.
However, severe seafood allergies can cause respiratory failure, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, and potentially death. These symptoms are life-threatening and require immediate emergency care. Symptoms usually develop within minutes to hours after eating.
After exposure to allergens or strange foods, if children show symptoms such as rash, hives, swollen lips, swollen face, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, rapid breathing, cyanosis, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, etc., parents need to quickly take their children to the nearest medical facility for timely emergency treatment to avoid more serious complications of the disease.
To prevent seafood allergies in children, when parents feed their children strange seafood, they should try it little by little; start with a small amount, then gradually increase the amount.
Families should not eat seafood from stores that do not ensure food safety or strange seafood of unknown origin. Because some people react even when they inhale steam or cooking vapor from shellfish.
Cross-contamination can also occur in establishments that serve seafood. People should read food labels carefully because some foods contain ingredients that are not specifically listed as “seafood flavor”, “fish source”…
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