A series of pharmacies in Nghe An were fined for selling cough and fever medicine without measuring customers' body temperature.

On September 28, the Nghe An Department of Health Inspectorate issued 3 decisions on administrative sanctions for 3 drug stores violating epidemic prevention regulations. These 3 drug stores were fined a total of 18.5 million VND.

These are all pharmacies related to two Covid-19 patients, a mother and daughter in Block 2, Vinh Tan Ward, announced by authorities on September 25 and 26.

Accordingly, after having the tracing results, the Department of Health worked with 4 pharmaceutical businesses where these F0s had come to buy medicine and medical supplies. Thereby, it was determined that these counters sold cough, fever, flu medicine, etc. without requiring buyers to make medical declarations, measure body temperature, exploit epidemiological information of people needing medicine; did not provide information about users, buyers of cough, fever, flu medicine, etc. to medical centers of districts, cities, and towns to promptly detect, screen, trace, isolate, and take samples for testing for suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and regulations on pharmaceutical business for establishments.

Illustration: Tien Hung

Specifically, the establishments that were fined include Long Chau 73 Pharmacy (Address: No. 129, Hong Son Street, Hong Son Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province); Pharmacy of Duoc Chien Thang Company Limited (Address: Hamlet 1, Hung Thinh Commune, Hung Nguyen District, Nghe An Province); An Loc Phat Pharmacy (Address: No. 75, Cao Xuan Huy Street, Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province).

In addition to the fine, the Department of Health has conducted an assessment to maintain compliance with GDP and GPP good practices, revoked the GDP/GPP Good Distribution Practice Certificate and the Certificate of Eligibility for Drug Business of the three above-mentioned establishments and Nhan Hoa Thanh Dat Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company (Address: No. 1, Cao Thang Street, Hong Son Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province).

Previously, the acting head of the Cua Nam Ward Health Station was also suspended from work in connection with this Covid-19 patient. Accordingly, on September 12, this woman had phlegm in her throat and went to Cua Nam Health Station to buy medicine. Although this is a symptom of the epidemic, the medical staff here did not require a medical declaration and did not perform a rapid test as required. Nearly 2 weeks later, the woman was found to be infected with Covid-19 when she went to Thai An Hospital for a rapid test.