Many violations in private medical facilities
In March 2024, public opinion was stirred up again when Mr. Dung (character's name has been changed), 37 years old, in Chu Prong district, Gia Lai province, sent a petition to the Gia Lai Provincial Department of Health and Pleiku City Police requesting clarification on the Tay Nguyen General Clinic's signs of fraud, property appropriation, and violation of physical and mental health...
Previously, Mr. Dung had symptoms of pain when urinating, so around March 15, 2024, he went to Tay Nguyen General Clinic for examination. After taking blood samples and performing an ultrasound of his penis, Mr. Dung was taken to the operating room. Here, the clinic staff said that Mr. Dung had gonorrhea and needed surgery to drain the penis fluid to be cured, the cost of treatment and surgery was 12.8 million VND.
"After my wife had just paid the fee, the doctors and medical staff of the clinic continued to call my wife into the operating room, saying that I was very sick, which could lead to penile necrosis. To cure it, it was necessary to apply a treatment package with an additional cost of 49.8 million VND" - Mr. Dung explained.
Suspecting that the clinic was operating fraudulently, Mr. Dung filed a complaint with the authorities. Upon receiving the news, the Inspectorate of the Gia Lai Provincial Department of Health came down to inspect the practice, discovered many violations in the treatment of patients and issued a decision to suspend the operation of the Surgery clinic at Tay Nguyen General Clinic (belonging to Cao Nguyen Medical Services Company Limited) for a period of 2 months. At the same time, an administrative fine was imposed on Dr. Le Van Phan (63 years old, CKI doctor, working at the clinic) of 7.5 million VND, and the right to use the medical examination and treatment practice certificate of this doctor was revoked because he did not comply with technical expertise in medical examination and treatment practice.
Most recently, in early October 2024, many people went to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Clinic (address 75 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Hoa Lu Ward, Pleiku City) for medical examination and treatment. After that, a patient sent a complaint to the authorities. Upon receiving the news, the interdisciplinary team (Provincial Police and Health Department Inspectorate) suddenly inspected the facility. At this time, the person impersonating Dr. Vo Minh Thanh confessed to the police that his real name was Vo Minh Chien (28 years old), residing in Chi Cong village, Cu An commune, Dak Po district, Gia Lai province.
Mr. Chien confirmed that he graduated with a degree in Culture, and had no medical-related qualifications or practice certificates. However, he still recklessly injected, consulted, and treated patients who came to see him.
Regulating private medical and pharmaceutical practice
Mr. Ly Minh Thai - Director of Gia Lai Province Department of Health - admitted that the network of private medical and pharmaceutical establishments is expanding while the functional force is thin, so management work is facing many difficulties.
Currently, the sanctions are not strong enough and not enough of a deterrent. From 2022 to now, the Provincial Department of Health has conducted 7 inspections and checks at 207 facilities. As a result, the unit discovered 48 facilities in violation and imposed administrative fines totaling 493 million VND.
According to regulations, private medical facilities must publicly post their practice licenses and prices for medical examination and treatment services. People need to be vigilant when visiting disguised facilities that do not have full legal documents from competent authorities.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich - Vice Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, through inspections and examinations by competent agencies, it is shown that there are still a number of private medical examination and treatment facilities violating the provisions of the law such as a number of cosmetic service facilities, spas operating without a license; operating beyond the scope of expertise; advertising medical examination, treatment services and drugs incorrectly on social networking platforms...
Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee assessed that these shortcomings have directly affected people's health, caused negative public opinion in society and requested the Department of Health to coordinate with departments, branches, People's Committees of districts, towns and cities to strengthen inspection and examination of compliance with regulations and conditions on private medical and pharmaceutical practice.
