Consumers alarmed after fake product scandal linked to medicine supplier in Vietnam

N.T.C., a 36-year-old resident of Hanoi, who regularly buys brain supplements and joint support products at the Pharmacity-branded pharmacy chain, was shocked when he learned that the products were manufactured by Herbitech Technology Co., Ltd., a company currently under criminal investigation for producing counterfeit health products.

In late April, the Institute of Criminal Science under the Ministry of Public Security identified two health supplements Medi Kid Calcium K2 and Baby Shark, both manufactured by Herbitech, as counterfeit.

Investigators have seized an additional 115 product samples from the company, which are currently undergoing verification.

“Previously, I only checked the ingredients, dosage, and expiration date, but after recent counterfeit medicine scandals, I started paying attention to the details related to the manufacturers,” C. told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

He shared that he was worried when discovering the products he had bought came from Herbitech, the company under prosecution.

Although these products have not been officially declared counterfeit, the connection to an indicted manufacturer left C. deeply unsettled.

Last week, he contacted Pharmacity's customer service hotline to report the issue.

A staff member invited him to a store for clarification and promised to provide documents proving the products met quality standards.

However, C. said that during his visit, the staff struggled to locate any documentation and merely promised to send it via Zalo.

Despite three follow-up calls, he has yet to receive any official response.

According to available product information, the supplements purchased by C. were registered by Hoang Giang Pharmaceutical Company, manufactured at Herbitech’s Noi Bai Factory, and distributed by Pharmacity Pharmacy JSC.

Pharmacity announces product recall

Pharmacity on Tuesday issued an official notice confirming the recall of certain health supplements produced by Herbitech.

Pharmacity's communications director Do Thi Thuy Van told Tuoi Tre that the chain has withdrawn the items linked to Herbitech and halted sales of all Herbitech products, including PMC Hoat Huyet (cerebral circulation-boosting supplement), PMC Ginkgo Biloba, PMC Joint Care, and PMC Liver Support.

Van explained that Pharmacity had proactively funded regular quality testing at VNTest Institute for Quality Testing and Inspection.

Also, the company collected independent inspection reports and documents provided by Hoang Giang Saigon Pharmaceutical, acting on behalf of Herbitech.

All reports confirmed that the four products met safety and quality standards as approved by Vietnam Food Safety Authority.

Though official conclusions have yet to be announced, Pharmacity quickly opted to suspend sales to prioritize customer safety, she said.

To reassure consumers, Pharmacity is offering a full refund for any Herbitech-related products.

“Customers may return the items at any Pharmacity pharmacy nationwide for a prompt and convenient refund,” Van added.

Despite Pharmacity’s assurance of a product recall after the director of Herbitech was arrested and charged for making fake products on April 28, the items remained available for purchase as late as May 8.

Following customer complaints, these products were finally removed from Pharmacity’s website on May 10.

On Monday, when Tuoi Tre reporters visited a Pharmacity pharmacy in Hanoi to purchase the items, an employee said that Pharmacity Hoat Huyet and Joint Care were out of stock with no indication of future availability.

They did not offer guidance on how to return the products.

Pharmacity on Tuesday released an official statement confirming the product recall.

In connection with the case involving the production of health supplements and the use of falsified test result certificates to distribute products to the market by Herbitech, based in Soc Son District, Hanoi, the investigators of the Ministry of Public Security on April 28 issued decisions to prosecute, temporarily detain, and search the residences of four individuals.

They are Pham Vu Khiem, director of Herbitech, Vuong Thi Hoa and Le Thi Hong Van, both chief accountants of Herbitech, and Bui Thi Thu Ha in charge of Herbitech’s accounting division, all charged with violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences.