On July 11, 2025, the Ministry of Health issued a telegram requesting strengthening management in the fields of forensic examination, forensic psychiatry and compulsory treatment of mental illness, in order to overcome the negative situation and serious violations of the law that have recently occurred at a number of forensic psychiatric examination facilities.
In recent years, forensic medical examination, forensic psychiatric examination, and compulsory treatment have been focused on, consolidated, improved, and developed; the units have made efforts to overcome all difficulties to successfully complete assigned tasks; the quality of the assessment is basically meeting the requirements of the litigation agency. The Ministry of Health, ministries, branches and localities have actively directed, coordinated supervision, resolution or submitted to competent authorities to resolve many important issues, promptly remove difficulties and obstacles, contributing to innovation and improving the effectiveness of judicial appraisal activities.
However, recently, there have been negative situations and serious law violations at the Central Institute of Forensic psychiatry, the Central Institute of Forensic psychiatry of Bien Hoa, and the Northern Mountainous Forensic Psychiatric Center, causing public outrage. The reason for the above situation is that some leaders and health workers have not strictly implemented the provisions of the law, professional instructions, and directives of the Ministry of Health and ministries and branches; some leaders of the unit and health workers are not exemplary, have not maintained political courage, are easily bribed, are easily lured to participate in criminal acts or assist bad guys who take advantage of violating the law.
To overcome the above shortcomings and limitations, ensure continuing to improve the effectiveness of judicial appraisal activities and promptly prevent negative behavior in handling work, the Ministry of Health requests heads of units to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the provisions of the law, professional instructions, directives of the Ministry of Health and ministries and branches; maintain political will, not let bad people buy bribes, and lure them into committing crimes; in which, urgently and seriously immediately implement the following contents:
Units carrying out forensic examination, forensic psychiatric examination and compulsory treatment will strengthen management responsibilities, ensure transparent and objective examination and meet the needs of litigation agencies.
Mental health examination and treatment facilities strictly implement regulations on medical records and health examination certificates, avoiding the situation of taking advantage of documents to evade criminal liability. The management of subjects required for mental illness treatment must be strict, preventing absconding or arbitrarily leaving treatment facilities.
Units must strictly comply with regulations related to forensic examination and compulsory treatment, while ensuring security and safety for medical staff during their duties. The Ministry of Health also requires promoting the application of information technology and investing in modern infrastructure to serve assessment and treatment, ensuring the development process of the specialty and meeting the requirements of professional work.
