Faced with concerns about counterfeit drugs, the Ministry of Health recommends that people buy from legal pharmacies.

Holding a half-finished bottle of dietary supplements in her hand, Ms. NTH (50 years old, in Dong Nai ) looked at it over and over again and then decided to stop because she was not sure if this was real or not.

Confused because of fear of having bought fake medicine

Ms. H. said that last March, she ordered a bottle of fish oil online for 300,000 VND. She has taken half a box so far, but is not sure if this is really a licensed medicine or just a fake.

"As a consumer, I am very confused when I see many fake drug production lines. Maybe I bought fake drugs in the past because I often buy online and at pharmacies near my house. Currently, I do not know where to buy reputable drugs. With the box of fish oil I am taking, I have to ask someone who knows to check if it is genuine or not before I dare to continue taking it," said Ms. H.

The bottle of Omega-3 fish oil Ms. H. is using and some products she has at home

PHOTO: NVCC

Similarly, Mr. NVH (36 years old, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) said that his mother had suffered from high blood pressure for many years, but her condition was stable because she regularly took the medicine prescribed by her doctor. One time, because the medicine in the house ran out and the pharmacy he usually bought from was closed, he stopped by a small pharmacy near the market to buy some. The packaging was identical, and the price was 20,000 VND cheaper.

"After a few days of using the new medicine, my mother often felt dizzy and her blood pressure increased irregularly. I thought it was because my mother's health was not good, not because of the quality of the medicine. After that, I took my mother to the hospital for examination and bought new medicine according to the doctor's prescription, and my mother's health stabilized again," Mr. H. shared.

Sharing the same opinion, Ms. LTTT (33 years old, living in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) said that every time her child coughed, she would go to the shops near her house to buy medicine. Once, her child took medicine but the illness still got worse, leading to bronchitis.

"As a young person, I don't know how to distinguish between real and fake medicine when buying for my child," said Ms. T.

Potential risks of treatment with counterfeit drugs

Pharmacist Pham Ngoc Thao Uyen, Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital, said that the fear of going to the doctor, buying medicine on their own based on word of mouth, combined with the preference for foreign medicine, makes many people - especially the elderly, easy targets for counterfeit medicine.

The consequence is a loss of money and health, the disease does not improve, and if used for a long time, there is even a risk of causing damage to the liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular system.

"Counterfeit drugs often do not contain active ingredients or contain ingredients of unknown origin, with uncontrolled content and purity. When entering the body, these substances can cause toxicity or accumulate, damaging the liver and kidneys - two organs responsible for metabolizing and eliminating drugs," said pharmacist Uyen.

Use a barcode/QR code scanner to check product information. If there is a barcode/QR code printed on the box, the code cannot be scanned or the information does not match, be careful.

PHOTO: BVCC

Be careful when using drugs - don't let negligence become the price you have to pay

Pharmacist Pham Ngoc Thao Uyen recommends that people, especially the elderly, need to equip themselves with basic knowledge to distinguish and choose safe drugs. Using drugs based on emotions or without a doctor's instructions can easily lead to unfortunate consequences. Instead, always consult your doctor and only use drugs that have been proven.

To reduce the risk of using counterfeit drugs, keep the following in mind:

• Prioritize buying medicine at pharmacies that meet GPP standards and are licensed by the authorities.
• Stay away from drugs with unknown labels, lacking Vietnamese or without official registration numbers.
• When you have symptoms of illness, go to a specialist hospital instead of self-medicating or listening to viral advertisements.
• Do not believe in advertisements for "hand-carried" or "imported from abroad" drugs if there is a lack of transparent information.
• Don't ignore any signs of "strange pills" - being vigilant is the way to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Recommendations from the Ministry of Health to help avoid buying fake drugs

To minimize the risk of buying counterfeit drugs, the Ministry of Health has made some recommendations:

Buy medicine at reputable places: Only buy medicine at licensed pharmacies, drugstores with reputation and clear address. Do not buy from unknown sources such as markets, street vendors or through social networking sites, livestreams...

Check the packaging and information on the medicine: The packaging must be intact, not torn, blurred or showing signs of being edited; Check information such as the medicine name, batch number, production date, expiry date, registration number, and manufacturer's name. This information must be clear and not erased.

Compare with the original packaging (if available) to detect differences in color, printing, or logos; observe the color, size, and symbols on the pill and medicine box. If there is a difference from previous use or from the original description, do not use.

Use a barcode/QR code scanner app to check product information (if there is a barcode/QR code printed on the box, the code cannot be scanned or the information does not match, be suspicious).

Request invoices and documents: When purchasing drugs, request a purchase invoice to ensure origin. The invoice is also the basis for a complaint if counterfeit drugs are detected.

Beware of unusual prices: Counterfeit drugs are often sold at unusually low prices to attract buyers. If the price is too low compared to the market, be cautious.

Find information from official sources: Look up drug information on the website of the Drug Administration of Vietnam (dav.gov.vn) or reputable websites of manufacturers. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before buying. For prescription drugs, only buy drugs with a doctor's prescription.

Beware of drugs sold online: From July 1, 2025, when Law No. 44/2024 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Pharmacy comes into effect, a number of new drugs (non-prescription drugs) will be traded (retailed) via e-commerce on e-commerce trading floors, e-commerce sales applications, and e-commerce sales websites with online ordering functions.

After July 1, 2025, in case of buying medicine online, only buy medicine on websites licensed to sell medicine online; do not buy through social networking platforms or unknown individual sellers.

Avoid buying drugs based on advertisements: Avoid believing in advertisements for "miracle drugs" or drugs of unknown origin sold online or by word of mouth.

Report if in doubt: If you discover signs of counterfeit drugs, immediately report them to the authorities such as the Department of Health, the Drug Administration or the local police for handling. If you have purchased counterfeit drugs, stop using them immediately and contact a medical facility for advice. Using counterfeit drugs can cause serious health risks.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/truoc-ma-tran-thuoc-gia-bo-y-te-khuyen-cao-nguoi-dan-mua-o-cac-nha-thuoc-hop-phap-18525042123521254.htm