"Cure bed" is just a scam?

(Baonghean) - Recently, many people in Vinh City and some neighboring districts have been talking about the healing effects of the free massage bed of the Korean Nuga Company. However, this type of bed is not in the list of medical equipment and has no healing effects.

"Miracle drug" to cure all diseases?

Nuga Dai Han Trading Co., Ltd. is introduced as a Korean company, with Mr. Tong Duc Hai as director, located on the 3rd floor of Huong Giang supermarket, No. 41, Tran Phu street, Le Mao ward (Vinh city). This company started operating on September 10, 2008, specializing in trading machinery, equipment and spare parts (except cars, motorcycles, motorbikes and other motor vehicles)... However, for those who line up every day to be treated, this company is the place that offers the "bed-in" treatment service. In Vinh city, in addition to the above headquarters, the company also has another location currently offering the "bed-in" treatment service at No. 24, Hai Thuong Lan Ong street (Vinh city).

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

In the role of a person with back pain, we went to the company's headquarters for consultation and to lie down on the machine. This is a rather old room at the back of the 3rd floor of Huong Giang supermarket. The office and treatment area for patients are arranged quite roughly and carelessly. If you want to lie down on a bed, you have to line up and get a number. The treatment bed area is a room of about 120 square meters, divided into 2 compartments. One half is where about 12 beds are placed for patients to lie down. The other half is both a place to register and get a number, and a place to set up a karaoke system to entertain patients. All the hospital beds are full.

Knowing that this was our first time here, an employee named Tuyet enthusiastically invited us to try the bed and introduced the product: This is the NugaBest massage bed. This product is from Korea and can treat many diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, etc. Most of the people who come to lie on the bed here are middle-aged and retired people. Ms. DT H in Trung Hoa block, Le Mao ward, a person who is lying down for "treatment", excitedly boasted: "I have been lying on this bed for more than 5 years, lying down every day, and I find it very effective. This bed is more than 70 million VND so I have not been able to buy it. But I have bought some other products of the company." Then she showed me a bracelet that looked like it was made of wood and was wearing around her neck: "This bracelet is nearly 2 million VND. They said that wearing it will stabilize blood pressure and blood sugar. At home, I also bought a hot mattress with infrared stones for nearly 8 million VND, it is very comfortable to lie on."

Gaps in management

Also according to the company's staff's advertisement, after 8 years of operation in Vinh city, there are many products for sale and almost everyone who comes to the program buys a few products... By focusing on serving the main target audience of retirees, those who have time and financial means; along with many "catchy" advertisements, this program has attracted hundreds of participants.

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

In fact, the story of the NugaBest massage bed's healing effects has been popular for more than 10 years in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In response to false advertisements, in 2006, the Ministry of Health officially announced that the Nuga Best massage bed has no function of healing or supporting healing, is not on the list of medical equipment, and is just a normal massage bed. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has inspected, fined, and suspended the advertising activities of a number of establishments that offer trial beds and sell Nuga Best beds... And after a while, these bed trial locations are now operating vigorously again, on a larger scale than before. The type of bed, the massage method, and the selling price have not changed (the selling price is up to 2,600 USD, while the original price is less than 1,000 USD).

It is clear that the "cure-all" bed is completely incapable of curing diseases. The question is, has the "bed-lying" activity and the sale of false "cure" products of Nuga Dai Han Trading Company, Ltd. been going on for a long time without being "whistled"? Meanwhile, the "cure" activity, trading and false advertising (including advertising by leaflets) of Nuga Dai Han Trading Company, Ltd. have violated the law and regulations of the State. Specifically: Article 45, Competition Law; Article 6, Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; Article 8, Law on Advertising... To handle and prevent the violations of Nuga Dai Han Trading Company, the competent authorities such as the Department of Industry and Trade, Department of Health, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and local authorities all have full authority to do so.

However, working with the authorities, it is possible to see clearly the loopholes in the management of this activity. The local authorities where the "bed-sleeping" facility of Nuga Dai Han Trading Company Limited is located said: "There is no conflicting information from the people, so the locality has not organized an inspection yet." Mr. Ho Van Nam - Head of the Vinh City Health Department said: "We have not recorded this incident or phenomenon. From the information provided by the reporter, it is certain that this is a scam. In the coming time, the city's Health Department will propose to establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to conduct the inspection. The team is expected to work at the end of May, beginning of June 2016."

Mr. Ho Son - Chief Inspector of Nghe An Department of Health said: "The Department of Health has recorded reports and complaints from people about buying hospital beds but the function is not as advertised. However, since this device is not a medical device, the industry has no authority or basis to handle it. This is the authority of market management, the Department of Industry and Trade...". Mr. Nguyen Van Thang - Deputy Head of Nghe An Market Management Department expressed surprise when reporters provided information about the company's operations. Mr. Thang affirmed: "We will immediately direct market management teams to coordinate with the Department of Health Inspectorate to inspect and handle the matter."

Song Hoang - Thanh Son