New government regulations impose fines of 10-20 million dong on organizations and individuals who display or promote formula milk in hospitals or retail outlets. Milk companies also face these penalties if they launch promotional programs, offer product samples, provide discounts, or use health education campaigns to boost sales.

Inspectors will impose fines of 5-10 million dong on those selling milk products within medical facility premises, excluding hospital pharmacies. Regulatory bodies also apply this fine range for disguised sponsorships, displaying items with brand logos, or allowing marketing staff to directly approach pregnant women.

Medical personnel who accept gifts from businesses, disclose patient personal information, or provide false product information will be fined 3-5 million dong. Doctors and nurses will also face penalties of 1-3 million dong if they independently advise families to use formula milk for infants under 6 months without professional medical indication, or if they falsely claim that external nutritional products are as good as breast milk.

A Ministry of Health representative stated that these strict regulations were introduced to curb widespread advertising that impacts treatment environments and patient well-being.

Infant formula. Photo: Le Nga

The National Institute of Nutrition emphasizes that breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition, enhancing immunity, reducing disease risk, and supporting the comprehensive development of young children. The health sector advises that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months and continue breastfeeding until 24 months of age or longer, combined with appropriate complementary feeding.

However, many mothers are influenced by advertising or biased advice, leading to early use of breast milk substitutes and a decrease in breastfeeding rates. In early January, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health requested Tu Du Hospital to rectify the situation after numerous diaper and milk advertisements were displayed on its premises, to avoid impacting the treatment environment and patient well-being.

Specifically, large diaper and milk advertisements appeared in various hospital areas, including walkways, corridors, examination rooms, and elevator doors. LED screens within the hospital also frequently broadcast advertisements for products targeting pregnant women and children. This prolonged situation led many patients and their relatives to express frustration and report it to the Department of Health.

Concurrently, the Ministry of Health instructed medical facilities nationwide to rigorously review counseling activities, prohibiting healthcare personnel from using their professional knowledge to falsely advertise and sell nutritional products.

By Le Nga