Criminal activities involving counterfeit drugs are becoming increasingly sophisticated, including tactics such as blending fake with real medications and establishing fake overseas offices to sell under the guise of imported products.

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Many counterfeit drugs were identified during testing at the Ho Chi Minh City Drug Testing Institute. Photo: BTC

At the seminar “Counterfeit Drugs – Real Consequences: What Solutions to Stop Them?” held on May 26 in Ho Chi Minh City, experts revealed alarming trends and proposed measures to curb this dangerous practice.

An alarming reality

Nguyen Quang Huy, Deputy Chief of the Market Management Department of Ho Chi Minh City, reported that in 2024 and the first five months of 2025, the agency handled 178 violations related to pharmaceutical products and dietary supplements.

For pharmaceutical drugs: 178 cases were investigated, with 262,158 units seized, worth over VND 15.4 billion (approximately USD 600,000). Fines totaled over VND 2.2 billion (about USD 86,000), with four cases referred for criminal investigation.

For dietary supplements: 38 cases were processed, involving 18,709 units worth over VND 835 million (about USD 32,700) and fines exceeding VND 786 million (around USD 30,700).

Common violations included smuggling, selling untraceable products, and counterfeit branding. More troubling are new tactics such as:

Mixing fake with genuine drugs to deceive authorities during random inspections and build initial trust with consumers.

Offenders often invent new product names and label them under shell companies claiming to be based in countries like Malaysia or Singapore, promoting them online under the guise of licensed pharmacists or pharmaceutical firms.

Dr. Ta Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health), noted that counterfeit drug operations are increasingly stealthy, often conducted without permanent manufacturing sites.

The production process is broken into smaller segments to evade detection, and social media platforms are the primary sales channels.

Some pharmacies unintentionally contribute to the problem by selling drugs without invoices or traceable origins, allowing fake drugs to infiltrate the official distribution network.

Challenges in control and testing

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Dr. Ta Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Drug Administration of Vietnam. Photo: BTC

Dr. Hung acknowledged that Vietnam’s drug testing system - including three central institutes and 62 provincial centers - still lacks modern, on-site testing equipment and consistent capacity.

Current administrative penalties are also too lenient to deter offenders, especially in cases involving small-value, untraceable drug batches.

Nguyen Thi Truc Van, Deputy Head of the General Planning Department at the Ho Chi Minh City Drug Testing Institute, said sample collection remains difficult due to limited authority.

Staff are often denied access with excuses such as the absence of authorized personnel, missing invoices, or refusal to sign inspection records.

Collecting samples from e-commerce platforms is also hindered by vague regulations on sealing and documentation.

Furthermore, the reference substances used in drug testing - especially for specialty drugs such as narcotics, psychotropics, and original brand-name medicines - are often scarce and expensive.

Van cited a case where testing eight HIV medication samples cost nearly VND 500 million (around USD 19,600) due to the lack of reliable suppliers.

Proposed solutions to combat fake drugs

To address the issue, Dr. Hung proposed several key solutions. First, the legal framework must be strengthened, including harsher penalties, clearer regulations for online drug sales, and mandatory transparency in distribution chains using QR codes.

Enhanced inspection of pharmaceutical businesses, especially those operating on social media, should be a top priority.

Technology is seen as a critical pillar, with proposals to implement blockchain, build a nationwide pharmaceutical database, and deploy software to track prescriptions and electronic medical records.

The Ministry of Health also pledged to invest in upgrading testing infrastructure, expand public awareness campaigns, and enhance coordination between ministries, local authorities, and the private sector.

The seminar emphasized that medicine is a special commodity directly tied to human health. Any act of producing or trading counterfeit drugs - even a single pill - is a grave violation of both legal and ethical standards, demanding strict enforcement and zero tolerance.

Phuong Thuy