Nghe An province is cracking down on the practice of impersonating doctors to deceive people.
In some localities in Nghe An province, there have been cases of individuals and organizations impersonating doctors to provide illegal medical examinations and treatments, as well as selling dietary supplements.
The entire poor village... suffers from fatty liver disease (?!)
Recently, in some mountainous districts of Nghe An province such as Ky Son and Que Phong, a group of people wearing white coats have appeared in some communes and villages to...physical examinationIt was free for the public. After conducting health checkups and consultations, this group introduced and sold dietary supplements to the people.
On June 10, 2025, the aforementioned group provided medical examinations, treatment, and sold dietary supplements to residents of Keo Luc village, Pha Danh commune (Ky Son district). Two products were sold: "Bao Minh capsules" and "An Binh joint supplement," priced at 1.4 million VND. After a 50% discount, residents needed to pay 700,000 VND for the two products. In Pha Danh commune alone, this group sold nearly 200 products.
Upon receiving the information, the Nghe An Department of Health identified the group as belonging to Viet My International Investment and Consulting Joint Stock Company (address: No. 23, Alley 4, Lane 362, Giai Phong Street, Thinh Liet Ward, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi City). The company's medical examination and treatment activities have not been approved by the Department of Health and violate legal regulations.
On June 11, 2025, the Department of Health issued a document requesting the People's Committee of Ky Son district to immediately stop the operations of the aforementioned company, and at the same time, requested strict handling of violations and corrective measures in accordance with regulations. Through investigation, a doctor at the Ky Son District Health Center confirmed: “All people who came for examination were diagnosed with the same disease – fatty liver, even without any tests. This is a sophisticated form of fraud, targeting people in mountainous areas who have little information and are very afraid of illness.”
Notably, the phenomenon of impersonating doctors to sell dietary supplements is not new. In previous years, this situation flourished in Vinh City and the lowland districts. After being discovered and dealt with by authorities, the group of perpetrators moved their operations to remote areas where management is still limited.
"Ghost" medical facilities are operating freely.
CounterfeitingfacilityMedical examinations and treatments are not limited to mountainous areas but are also infiltrating urban areas in a different form: disguised advertising on social media. Simply by searching for keywords related to symptoms, advertising pages will immediately appear based on personalized algorithms.
“In August 2024, I had back pain, so I searched on Facebook and saw an advertisement for a facility called the Vietnam Institute of Musculoskeletal and Nervous System Treatment. I went there for treatment. After one session using the "electrical infusion" therapy, I not only didn't get better but the pain worsened. Upon further investigation, I learned that this was not a licensed medical facility. I requested a refund for the 10 sessions I had paid for, but I was not given a refund.”
Ms. Tran Thi Bich Van (57 years old), residing in Block 5, Hung Nguyen town, Hung Nguyen district.
When reporters tried searching for orthopedic treatment centers in Vinh City using Facebook, numerous facilities automatically found their way to the personal pages through the social media advertising algorithm. For example, accounts like "Nghe An Center for Orthopedic and Nervous System Treatment" or "Dr. Le Quoc Viet - Specialist in Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Disorders - Vinh City" displayed enticing advertisements such as: "Complete treatment for musculoskeletal, spinal, and nervous system diseases, costing only 499k", and "Complete treatment for herniated discs, osteoarthritis, and numbness in limbs starting from 499k".
These websites are characterized by not specifying locations; lacking operating licenses issued by the Department of Health or the Ministry of Health; and using images and statements of fake "doctors" or "medical staff" for advertising. These sites all employ automated messaging. Anyone who clicks on a page will receive a message inquiring about their aches and pains, introducing services, and requesting their phone number. Staff from these "phantom" medical facilities will then use this phone number to conduct background checks and direct people to their correct facility.
Promptly rectify the situation.
In response to the situation of illegal "humanitarian" health check-ups followed by the sale of dietary supplements, and "fake doctors" defrauding people through medical examinations and treatments, the Nghe An Department of Health has recently issued several documents to rectify the situation and issue warnings. Accordingly, on June 9, 2025, the Nghe An Department of Health issued Official Letter No. 2340/SYT-NVY regarding strengthening management and transparency of information when posting medical examination and treatment services on social media.
The Nghe An Department of Health stated: Currently, social media is flooded with advertisements and information promoting medical examination, treatment, and healthcare services. Many of these advertisements contain false information, exaggerate claims about effectiveness, mislead the public, and negatively impact the reputation of the healthcare sector and the rights of patients. Some individuals and organizations are exploiting social media to promote unlicensed services, leading to serious health consequences for the public.
The Department of Health requests the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to direct media agencies in the province to intensify the dissemination of information to the public, encouraging them to choose medical facilities with complete and transparently published information, licensed to operate (Name of facility; Address; Operating license number issued by the Department of Health or the Ministry of Health), and with information confirming the content of advertisements.
Public and private healthcare facilities, when posting any information related to medical examination, treatment, healthcare services, or professional consultation on social media (Facebook, Zalo, TikTok, YouTube, Website...), must include complete information about the facility; absolutely no use of images or statements of doctors or medical staff for misleading or inaccurate advertising; only advertising content that has been approved by the competent authority is permitted. Any advertising that violates regulations will be severely punished according to the law.
Subsequently, on June 16, 2025, the Nghe An Department of Health issued Official Letter No. 2479/SYT-NVY to strengthen the management of humanitarian medical examination and treatment activities, addressed to the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns, and public and private medical facilities in the province. The Department requested that localities conduct regular inspections, promptly detect, and strictly handle illegal medical examination and treatment activities. For medical facilities, the Department of Health requires unit leaders to be responsible for strict management and full compliance with legal regulations when implementing humanitarian medical examination and treatment programs and mobile health check-ups. Organizing or participating in activities not authorized by competent authorities is strictly prohibited.
The Nghe An Department of Health has assigned specific tasks to functional departments and district, town, and city health centers to strengthen supervision and promptly guide and rectify mobile medical examination and treatment activities in the area. Units are strictly prohibited from participating in or coordinating any unlicensed medical examination and treatment activities. The Department also recommends that people avoid using medical examination and treatment services advertised with unclear origins, lacking legal basis, containing sensational headlines, or glorifying treatment methods, especially advertisements promising the best treatment for chronic diseases and guaranteeing complete cures.
Dr. Nguyen Huu Le, MD, PhD – Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Health