Pharma drugs in the spotlight again

November 17, 2017 - 09:51

The Ministry of Public Security is widening investigations into problems related to a batch of cancer drugs called H-Capita (500mg). It is also examning the responsibilities of the Department of Drug Administration of  Việt Nam (DAVN) and individuals involved.

VN Pharma former chairman and general director is Nguyễn Minh Hùng at the court.— Photo tienphong.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Public Security has announced that it is widening investigation into different problems related to a batch of cancer drugs called H-Capita (500mg).

The ministry also announced on Wednesday that it is examining the responsibility of the Drug Administration of Việt Nam (DAVN) and individuals involved.

The 9,000 boxes of H-Capita 500mg were imported by Việt Nam Pharma Enterprise in 2013 without proper proof of origin or quality. The pharmaceutical firm’s former chairman and general director is Nguyễn Minh Hùng.

According to an indictment, from 2013 to 2014, Hùng ordered Võ Mạnh Cường, a director of H&C International Maritime Company, to purchase imported medicines reportedly manufactured by Canada’s Helix Pharmaceuticals Company and supply the drugs to Vietnamese hospitals.

To legalise the distribution of the product, Hùng and his accomplices forged importation documents stating that the drug had been manufactured by a company named Helix Canada. The fake documents were then submitted to the DAVN.

An investigation later revealed that Canadian authorities had never licensed Helix to produce medicine.

Earlier, on October 30, the HCM City Supreme People’s Court ordered a re-investigation involving the Investigation Police Department of Economic Crimes and Corruption under the Ministry of Public Security.

The court also decided to continued to hold Hùng and Cường for further investigation.

The jury said that the defendants were corrupt and made fake seals, but authorities were not satisfied.

The extended inquiry will examine the papers the accused used to import the H-Capita, whether the Helix Canada company exists, and the responsibility of different individuals as well as the DAVN in the case. — VNS

 

 

 

 

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