CaliToday (01/11/2025): Health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have announced a large-scale crackdown on medical facilities and cosmetic clinics, issuing significant fines and suspending multiple licenses following a city-wide inspection.
This sweep, conducted by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health (DoH), uncovered widespread violations ranging from deceptive social media advertising to dangerous, unsanctioned medical practices.
The move comes amid growing public concern over the safety of the city's booming, but poorly regulated, aesthetics industry. In recent months, local hospitals have reported a sharp increase in patients suffering severe complications including disfigurement, infections, and tissue necrosis from "botched" procedures performed at unlicensed clinics.
Deceptive Advertising and False Promises
Investigators found that "a significant number" of clinics were engaging in blatant false advertising, primarily on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok.
Common violations included:
Exaggerated Claims: Advertising "100% safe" or "painless" results for complex surgical procedures.
Unlicensed Services: Promoting advanced procedures (such as rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, or complex liposuction) that the clinic was not licensed to perform. These services legally must be done in a certified hospital, not a small clinic.
Misleading Staff Credentials: Using images of foreign "doctors" or implying staff had qualifications they did not possess.
"These clinics lure in patients with slick marketing and low prices, promising results they are not equipped or legally allowed to deliver," said a DoH spokesperson.
Dangerous Lapses in Professional Standards
More alarming were the "professional violations" uncovered during the inspections. Authorities found numerous clinics operating far outside their approved scope, posing a direct threat to patient safety.
Key violations included:
Unqualified Practitioners: Procedures being performed by staff with no medical degree, or by nurses acting as surgeons.
Unapproved Substances: The rampant use of uncertified or smuggled Botox, fillers, and medical supplies that have not been approved by the Ministry of Health.
Improper Facilities: Performing invasive procedures in non-sterile environments (such as simple treatment rooms) instead of proper operating theaters, leading to high risks of infection.
In response, the DoH has issued fines totaling hundreds of millions of VND (tens of thousands of dollars) and, in the most severe cases, has revoked the operating licenses of several clinics for 6-12 months.
The DoH has also issued a public warning, urging citizens to thoroughly research any clinic, verify the credentials of the practitioner, and only undergo surgical procedures at fully licensed hospitals.