All drugs entering hospitals must have a clear origin, so counterfeit drugs are only in the market, not in hospital, affirmed Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan.

While health workers suggest people recovering from the COVID-19 maintain a reasonable diet and exercise to recover as quickly as possible, many patients are turning to dietary supplements to speed up their recovery.

The growing production, import and trade of dietary supplements should be managed to avoid potential threats to users, experts said.

More than 90 percent of dietary supplement producers in Vietnam have not implemented Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), according to health officials, leading to fears that without gaining GMP certificates by July next year, their production would be halted.