Society

Former Deputy Health Minister to be tried on May 12 for role in fake medicine case

A first-instance trial will start on May 12 on former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong and 13 other defendants involved in the case relating to the trading of counterfeit medicines labelled as Health 2000 Canada; the lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences; and the abuse of positions and power while on duty, which took place in HCM City, some other localities and at the DAV, according to the Hanoi People’s Court.
Former Deputy Health Minister to be tried on May 12 for role in fake medicine case ảnh 1Former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A first-instance trial will start on May 12 on formerDeputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong and 13 other defendants involved inthe case relating to the trading of counterfeit medicines labelled as Health 2000 Canada; the lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences; and the abuse of positions and power while on duty, which took place in HCM City, some other localities and at the DAV, according to the Hanoi People’s Court.

In this case,Cuong and two other defendants – Nguyen Viet Hung, former deputy director ofthe Health Ministry’s Drug Administration (DAV); and Le Dinh Thanh, a former officialof Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department -  were charged with lack ofresponsibility causing serious consequence.

Two former officials of the DAV – Pham Hong Chau and Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy – areaccused of abusing positions and power while on duty.  

Meanwhile, nine defendants, including six executives and employees of VN Pharmacompany, two from H&C International Maritime Trading Co. Ltd and a formerdirector general of the SaigonPharmaceutical Company, are charged with trading counterfeit medicine.

Accordingto the verdict of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, as head of the DAV from 2007to 2016, Cuong failed to fulfil his responsibility in supervising andinspecting the work of experts in assessing and granting licencesfor seven kinds of drugs, leading to the approval of dossiers for theimport and consumption of the six out of the seven counterfeitdrugs, labelled Health 2000, in Vietnam with a total value of over 148billion VND.

Afterthe drugs were imported and consumed in Vietnam, althoughhe received information about the suspected origins of the drugs, Cuongdid not give direction to stop their circulation, or recall anddestroy the drugs. As a result, domestic medical establishments continuedto use supplied counterfeit drugs labelled Health 2000 Canada withoutclear origins to treat patients at a total value of over 3.7 billion VND. 

Meanwhile, former DAV deputy director Hung did not perform properly his assigned tasksand duties thus failing to detect and stop wrongdoings of his subordinates inassessing and licensing the drugs./.
VNA
#former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong #counterfeit medicines #Health 2000 Canada #Vietnam #VietnamPlus #Vietnam news
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

Young people take part in activities at the event to mark International Youth Day 2026 in Hanoi on August 9 (Photo: VNA)

Over 40 youth-led initiatives introduced at International Youth Day 2026

The event, organised by the Youth Advisory Group of the UN in Vietnam, brought together 44 youth groups, social enterprises, educational institutions and UN-supported programmes. Exhibition booths and interactive activities at the event introduced solutions created and led by young people.

The flag-raising ceremony at the A Pa Chai flagpole in Sin Thau commune, Dien Bien province (Photo: VNA)

“I Love My Fatherland” journey reaches Dien Bien

The "I Love My Fatherland" journey is an annual nationwide programme aimed at promoting patriotism, revolutionary ideals and civic responsibility among Vietnam's youth through visits to historical, cultural and sovereignty landmarks across the country.

Officers of the Dong Thap provincial Border Guard give gifts and provide information on IUU fishing control and prevention to fishermen at Vam Lang fishing port, Gia Thuan commune, Dong Thap province. (Photo: VNA)

Dong Thap tightens fishing vessel management

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, acting as the standing agency of Dong Thap's IUU Steering Committee, has been tasked with reviewing and updating the province's action plan to address recommendations raised during the EC's fifth inspection mission on Vietnam's anti-IUU efforts.

At the launch ceremony (Photo: VNA)

French-language newspaper launches video contest

The contest, announced this week, is a video-based evolution of the newspaper's 'Jeunes Reporters Francophones' competition, which has run for ten seasons since its 2016 launch with backing from the Asia-Pacific regional office of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Since the beginning of the year, Ca Mau provinces have inspected 100% of fishing vessels arriving at and departing from designated fishing ports in accordance with regulations. (Photo: VNA)

Ca Mau launches peak campaign to combat IUU fishing

As one of Vietnam’s largest fishing centres, with an extensive coastline and a sizeable offshore fleet, Ca Mau considers combating IUU fishing a top political priority. Provincial authorities said recent efforts have yielded positive results, particularly in fisheries management and law enforcement.

A consumer scans a product code to check its origin (Photo: VNA)

Legal safeguards for consumers in digital economy strengthened

Part of the Government's plan to implement the Law on Protection of Consumers’ Rights for the 2024-2026 period, the event highlighted key provisions of the law and its guiding documents, while updating participants on decentralised state management, complaint handling, dispute resolution and inter-agency coordination.

Foreign tourists on a beach in Phu Quoc. Phu Quoc will launch English training courses for local vendors, taxi drivers, tourism and service workers from September as part of preparations for the APEC 2027 Economic Leaders’ Week. (Photo: VNA)

Phu Quoc launches English classes for vendors, drivers ahead of APEC 2027

Under the project “Enhancing foreign language capacity for the community in the 2026–30 period, with a vision to 2045”, recently announced by the Phu Quoc Special Zone authorities, English programmes will be piloted at 10-15 schools across all three education levels from September 2026 to June 2027.

Fishing vessels owned by local fishermen are anchored off the coast of Ha Tien, An Giang province. (Photo: VNA)

An Giang takes zero-tolerance approach to IUU fishing

Alongside the continued implementation of comprehensive anti-IUU fishing measures, An Giang has proposed that the Government promptly introduce policies to support fishermen in switching livelihoods and decommissioning nearshore fishing vessels in order to conserve natural fisheries resources.

Defendant Nguyen Thanh Hiep is informed of procedural decisions by the police. (Photo: VNA)

Singer, media executive charged over YouTube music copyright infringement

The Investigation Police Agency under the municipal Public Security Department said on August 5 that it had prosecuted and placed in temporary detention Nguyen Thi Hien, owner of the YouTube channel Phuong Diem Huyen, and Nguyen Thanh Hiep, Director of Unicorn Vietnam Media and Entertainment Co., Ltd., for investigation on the charge of infringing copyright and related rights under Article 225 of Vietnam's Penal Code.