Just a few minutes of browsing Facebook, TikTok, or Zalo, and it’s easy to find countless personal accounts live-streaming or posting about health products, speaking authoritatively, citing convincing arguments as if they were seasoned experts with many years of experience in the field.

One Facebook account named C.T.B., residing in Điện Biên Phủ city, Điện Biên province recently promoted a “stroke prevention pill” with an image of the product and a description: “This stroke prevention pill is unbeatable, costing less than VND 5,000/day. Prevention is better than cure. Headaches and dizziness may seem mild, but they are not simple issues. People keep hesitating about the cost, but health is no joke.”

Another Facebook account, M.K., also residing in Điện Biên Phủ city, posted on May 20, promoting DHA supplements for pregnant women with enticing promises: “Your baby will be smart from the womb,” “sharp eyes when born.” The seller claimed the product was sourced from Australia and recommended by many doctors, listing various benefits for both the mother and baby, such as improving brain development, vision, stabilizing blood pressure, enhancing memory, and preventing postnatal depression...

These posts quickly attract interactions, shares, and comments, with many expressing trust in the content, even though no scientific evidence or official medical certification is provided. The product promotion does not contain the required legal warning that it is a dietary supplement, not a substitute for medicine.

What’s more concerning is that those promoting dietary supplements and medicines have no medical training, and in many cases, lack the basic knowledge to offer health advice. They are simply salespeople attempting to build trust with customers by borrowing medical jargon, sharing personal stories, and claiming to have experienced positive results from using the products.

According to the Food Safety Department under the Ministry of Health, dietary supplements only serve as health support and cannot replace medicines. However, the line between these two concepts is often misunderstood, and sometimes intentionally distorted. The lack of understanding or inadequate counseling from qualified professionals can lead consumers to use these products incorrectly, resulting in severe health consequences.

Along with many localities across the country, authorities in Điện Biên province are conducting a high-priority inspection of essential items such as medicines, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and health products. According to the Điện Biên provincial Department of Health, between April 24 and May 6, an inter-departmental inspection team checked 24 establishments involved in the production and sale of medicines and dietary supplements, discovering 8 violations and issuing fines according to the law.

However, most violations were found in establishments with specific addresses, while online sales of dietary supplements, which are booming in the digital space, remain inadequately controlled. Products sold online often lack clear information about their origins, business addresses, tax codes, or invoices. Furthermore, most transactions are conducted through bank transfers or cash-on-delivery (COD), making it difficult to trace and address violations without close cooperation between authorities.

Vũ Thị Thùy, Inspection Chief at the Department of Health, stated that the authorities have clearly identified the complex and unpredictable development of the online trade in dietary supplements, medicines, and health products. Therefore, inspections of online businesses will be coordinated across multiple agencies, including cyber security and high-tech crime prevention, market management, telecommunications providers, and digital platform providers.

E-commerce and social media have undoubtedly opened up more convenient access to products for people, especially in remote areas. However, when the products sold are related to health, if not properly regulated, they could lead to serious consequences. Therefore, alongside the efforts of the authorities, it is crucial to raise consumer awareness. Each individual must become an informed consumer, actively seeking information from legitimate sources, avoiding advertisements without scientific backing, and not purchasing or using dietary supplements, medicines, or health products from social media accounts with unclear origins and no expertise.

Authorities also recommend that when considering any health-related product, citizens should consult doctors, pharmacists, or visit reputable medical facilities and pharmacies for proper advice. It’s important to remember that dietary supplements are not medicines, do not treat diseases, and cannot replace conventional medical treatments.