Safeguarding Patients: A Zero-Tolerance Approach to Functional Foods

Park Mai Hospital has taken a firm stance on patient safety, implementing a complete ban on the sale of functional foods within its pharmacies for the past three years. This proactive measure extends beyond the hospital walls, with strict prohibitions against any form of prescription or advice of these supplements, even indirectly.

Stringent Supply Chain Controls: Ensuring Drug Authenticity

While the hospital has not encountered instances of counterfeit medications or adulterated products within its treatment protocols, it remains vigilant. Deputy Professor Dao Xuanko emphasized the hospital’s commitment to proactively reviewing its entire supply chain and internal pharmacy operations. This rigorous approach aims to guarantee the absolute safety and well-being of every patient.

“The hospital takes strict control from the beginning. All drugs from the hospital must go through a strict bidding process and have clear legal documents and origin.”

deputy Professor dao Xuanko, Park Mai Hospital

Early Detection and Prevention: A Multi-Layered Defense

Park Mai Hospital employs a multi-layered defense system to identify and prevent potential risks. This includes a rigorous bidding process for all medications, ensuring clear legal documentation and verifiable origins. Furthermore, the hospital actively monitors prescriptions and the distribution of health supplements, investigating any anomalies and reporting them to the relevant authorities.This proactive approach aims to mitigate risks before they can impact patient care.

Addressing the Financial Burden: Prioritizing Necessary Treatments

The hospital acknowledges that while functional foods may not always be inherently harmful, their uncontrolled use can lead to unnecessary financial burdens for patients. Park Mai Hospital aims to prevent situations where patients face disproportionate costs, with the price of unproven supplements significantly exceeding the cost of essential medications. This initiative underscores the hospital’s commitment to ethical and cost-effective patient care.

The Broader Context: Combating Counterfeit Drug Operations

Park mai Hospital’s actions come amidst growing concerns about counterfeit drug operations. Recently, the Tanho-A-Sung Police dismantled a large-scale institution involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit goods, amassing hundreds of billions in illicit gains since 2021. Initial investigations revealed that these counterfeit drugs were manufactured in various locations, including hanoi, Ho Chi minh City, and Happiness, often marketed as foreign products, notably targeting elderly consumers through online channels. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), substandard and falsified medical products are estimated to cause tens of billions of dollars in economic losses annually and pose a significant threat to public health.

Ministry of Health Recommendations: Emphasizing Legitimate Sources

While the Ministry of Health reports no known instances of counterfeit products originating from within the hospital network, it strongly advises the public to purchase medications only from legitimate pharmacies and to strictly adhere to doctors’ instructions. Consumers are urged to thoroughly research medications before purchasing them, ensuring they are obtained from trusted sources.

“When purchasing, you need to find details about the drug.”

Ministry of Health

Conclusion: A Commitment to Patient Well-being

Park Mai Hospital’s complete approach to patient safety, including the ban on functional foods and stringent supply chain controls, reflects a deep commitment to providing high-quality, ethical, and cost-effective healthcare. By prioritizing patient well-being and actively combating the risks associated with counterfeit medications and unnecessary supplements,the hospital sets a strong example for healthcare providers nationwide.