A pharmacy chain in Hanoi has been putting new expiry dates on old medicine, authorities said.
Hanoi Environmental Police checked Luong Thien Long Drug Store on January 9.
The Environmental Police Department, the local market management board and inspectors of the Health Department found more than 200,000 types of expired medicines sold at three drug stores owned by Tran Thi Anh Tuyet.
Initial investigation showed that Tuyet has more than 30 shops in Hanoi. In order to sell the expired medicines, Tuyet allegedly erased the expiry date on the boxes and printed new ones, or cut off the imprinted date.
A policeman worked with Tran Thi Anh Tuyet (right) at one of her shops on January 9.
Colonel Bui Duc An, deputy head of Environmental Police Department, said Tuyet, born in 1966, had had three convictions in trading fake food and medicines. She does not have a pharmacist degree.
It is alleged Tuyet collected and bought expired medicines at cheap prices and change the expiry dates to sell at her stores, including medicines for diabetes and iron supplement for pregnant women.
Expired medicines found at Tuyet's stores.
All of the medicines are stored at Luong Thien Long Drug Store on Phuc Xa Street, where Tuyet and her employees allegedly changed the expiry dates. Most of her customers were poor labourers.
Investigations are continuing.
