Illegal infusion of sea water at home, fined 80 million VND

On June 29, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health said that the Department’s Inspectorate coordinated an inspection of a coffee shop on Hoang Sa Street and noted that on the 2nd floor, there were many customers sitting and drinking coffee. In a hidden corner, a person was sitting on a chair and receiving an IV. The IV consisted of a 250 ml bottle of 0.9% NaCl mixed with a tube of vitamin B, a tube of vitamin C, and a tube of glucose.

Providing “sea water infusion service” is a 32-year-old woman. On the desk there is also a first aid bag with a blood pressure monitor, stethoscope, thermometer, blood collection tube, syringe, infusion line, infusion fluid and many types of injection and infusion drugs.

The infusion staff said they had studied a one-year primary medical course at the 4th Army Corps in 2009, did not have a medical practice certificate, and had only performed infusions at home for two clients in June at a cost of VND350,000 per person.

The Department Inspector issued a record of fine of 80 million VND for medical examination and treatment without a practicing certificate and providing this service without an operating license, and at the same time requested the woman to stop practicing. until all documents are complete.

In addition, the authorities also discovered that this woman was commenting on the Facebook page “Sea water infusion at home – Medical examination and treatment service at home in Ho Chi Minh City” to find customers in need. This page is managed by a medical service company located in Binh Hung Hoa B ward, Binh Tan district.

Checking this address, the delegation noted that the facility has the sign VMEDI Medical Care Services Company Limited, family medical equipment store, supply – rental of family medical equipment, service contract healthcare. This place does not have a license to operate medical examination and treatment. The company director said that from October 2023 to January 2024, it performed home infusions for customers but then stopped operations.

In March 2024, he established the website vmedi.com.vn to connect doctors and nurses to participate in supply when customers need it. Currently, the website has more than 40 registered accounts, of which 20 accounts include doctors, physicians, and nurses who have been approved to participate in activities.