VTV halts advertisement for Chinese clinics

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Advertising programs for Chinese clinics on a number of channels, including TV Shopping, Style TV, have been halted after these clinics were found employing doctors without practitioners’ licenses, issuing false diagnoses, overcharging patients, selling expired or unapproved medicines, and offering unlicensed services, said Ngo Lam Phuong, deputy head of VTV’s editorial board of the cable TV programs.

Recently, an advertising clip for the Hanoi-based Maria Clinic was broadcast on the TV Shopping channel and the media later discovered that the content of the clip was not the same as the advertising content that had been approved by the Hanoi Health Department.

Phuong, however, explained that the broadcast of the ad was made only due to a shortcoming of an employee in charge of advertisements.

As reported by Tuoi Tre News on June 28, health inspectors in Hanoi fined Maria Clinic VND11.5 million (US$551) for TV commercials offering services not specified in its license, for not posting prices of some services, and for having nurses consult patients.

For the sake of the public, VTV would strengthen management of the contents of all ads, especially those related to human health, Phuong said.

In related developments, Hanoi Health Department’s chief inspector Nguyen Viet Cuong yesterday said the department has given fines totaling VND53 million ($2,540) to 4 of the 13 Chinese clinics in the city for their violations that have been reported.

At a recent meeting with the 13 Chinese clinics, the department asked them to comply with all relevant regulations, Cuong said.

Any clinics that have repeat offenses will have their business licenses revoked, Cuong affirmed.