Is the "cure-all bed" just a scam?

(Baonghean) - Recently, many people in Vinh City and some neighboring districts have been talking about the purported healing properties of free massage beds from Nuga Korea Company. However, these beds are not classified as medical equipment and have no therapeutic effect.

A "miracle cure" for all ailments?

Nuga Korea Trading Co., Ltd. is presented as a South Korean company, managed by Mr. Tong Duc Hai, located on the 3rd floor of Huong Giang Supermarket, No. 41, Tran Phu Street, Le Mao Ward (Vinh City). The company started operating on September 10, 2008, specializing in the business of machinery, equipment, and spare parts (excluding automobiles, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles)... However, for those who queue daily for medical treatment, this company offers a "bed-based" medical treatment service. In Vinh City, in addition to the aforementioned headquarters, the company also has another location currently providing this "bed-based medical treatment" service at No. 24, Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (Vinh City).

People are receiving treatment at a facility of Nuga Company on Tran Phu Street (Vinh City).

Posing as someone suffering from back pain, we went to the company's headquarters for consultation and treatment. It was a rather old room at the back of the third floor of the Huong Giang supermarket. The office and treatment area were quite rudimentary and carelessly furnished. To get a bed, you had to queue and take a number. The treatment area was a room about 120 square meters, divided into two sections. One half contained about 12 beds for patients. The other half served as both a registration area and a karaoke room for patient entertainment. All the beds were occupied.

Knowing it was our first time, an employee named Tuyet enthusiastically invited us to try out the bed and introduced the product: "This is the NugaBest massage bed. It's from South Korea and can treat many diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, etc." Most of the people who come to use the beds here are middle-aged or retired. Ms. DT H from Trung Hoa block, Le Mao ward, a person currently undergoing "treatment," excitedly boasted: "I've been using this bed for over 5 years, every day, and I've seen great results. This bed costs over 70 million VND, so I haven't been able to buy it yet. But I've been able to buy some other products from the company." Then she showed me a bracelet that looked like it was made of wood that she was wearing around her neck: "This bracelet costs nearly 2 million VND. They say wearing it helps stabilize blood pressure and blood sugar. At home, I also bought a heated mattress with infrared stones for nearly 8 million VND, and it feels great to lie on."

Gaps in management

According to the company's staff, after 8 years of operation in Vinh City, many products have been sold, and almost everyone who comes for a massage buys at least a few products... By focusing on serving retirees who have time and financial means, coupled with many appealing advertisements, this program has attracted hundreds of participants.

People lie on infrared mattresses at a Nuga Company facility on Tran Phu Street (Vinh City).

In fact, the story about the NugaBest massage bed's supposed therapeutic effects first surfaced over 10 years ago in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Following these false advertisements, in 2006, the Ministry of Health officially announced that the NugaBest massage bed has no therapeutic or supportive functions, is not classified as medical equipment, and is merely a regular massage bed. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health inspected, fined, and suspended the advertising activities of several establishments offering trial use and sales of NugaBest beds. After a period of inactivity, these trial areas have now become active again, on a larger scale than before. The type of bed, massage techniques, and selling price remain unchanged (selling price up to $2,600 USD, while the original price was less than $1,000 USD).

It is clear that the "cure-all" bed is completely incapable of curing diseases. The question is why the "bed-based" operation and sale of falsely advertised "healing" products by Nuga Korea Trading Co., Ltd. have gone unpunished for so long? Meanwhile, the "healing," trading, and false advertising (including leaflet advertising) activities of Nuga Korea Trading Co., Ltd. have violated laws and regulations of the State. Specifically: Article 45 of the Competition Law; Article 6 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; Article 8 of the Advertising Law... To handle and prevent the violations of Nuga Korea Trading Co., Ltd., the relevant authorities, including the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Health, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and local authorities, all have the necessary powers to do so.

However, working with the authorities, loopholes in the management of this activity are clearly visible. Local authorities where the Nuga Korea Trading Company Limited operates its "bed-based" facility stated: "There have been no negative reports from the public, so the locality has not yet conducted an inspection." Mr. Ho Van Nam, Head of the Vinh City Health Department, said: "We have not recorded any incidents or phenomena related to this. Based on the information provided by the reporter, it is certainly a scam. In the coming time, the Vinh City Health Department will propose the establishment of an inter-agency inspection team to investigate. The team is expected to work at the end of May or beginning of June 2016."

Mr. Ho Son, Chief Inspector of the Nghe An Department of Health, stated: “The Department of Health has acknowledged reports and complaints from the public regarding the purchase of hospital beds that do not function as advertised. However, since this equipment is not medical equipment, the department has no authority or basis to handle the matter. This falls under the jurisdiction of market management, the Department of Industry and Trade, etc.” Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Head of the Nghe An Market Management Sub-Department, expressed surprise when the reporter provided information about the company's operations. Mr. Thang affirmed: “I will immediately direct the market management teams to coordinate with the Department of Health Inspectorate to investigate and handle the matter.”

Song Hoang - Thanh Son