A drugstore in Hà Nội. Drugstores will be among medical facilities to be inspected. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

HÀ NỘI — The health ministry’s inspectorate has ordered local health departments of central-level provinces and cities to strengthen inspections on healthcare services during the new year holiday.

The departments were urged to step up inspection in the context of increasing demand for food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and medical services when the new year season is nearing. While Việt Nam's COVID-19 situation is largely under control, the country still stands at high risks of getting COVID-19 infection from overseas arrivals as the global pandemic continues to progress with complicated developments.

In the decree 1057/TTRB-P1 sent by the health ministry to local health departments, the inspectorates said a number of organisations and localities had been complacent and failed to follow the pandemic’s preventive protocols.

Many took advantage of COVID-19 and increasing market demand to trade fake or low-quality products without clear origin, sell unsafe food and violate medical exam and treatment regulations.

In that context, the health ministry’s inspectorate asked local inspectorates and relevant agencies to work together to conduct inspections at production and business facilities that provide and import food in large quantities because imported food might pose COVID-19 transmission risks.

Local medical inspectorates were requested to inspect establishments that manufacture, trade and import drugs, chemicals, medical equipment and supplies for COVID-19 prevention; medical examination and treatment establishments, especially establishments without licences.

They must also fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, according to the decree.

Healthcare inspectorates must continue to step up supervision on COVID-19 prevention and control efforts following the order of the Government and the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, which targets the pandemic’s containment and socio-economic development.

Those who fail to make medical declarations or make dishonest reports, evade quarantine, and quarantine centres that fail to follow protocols must be strictly punished. — VNS