Announcing the initial investigation results of Hoai Duc Hospital case

On the afternoon of August 9, Director of Hanoi City Police Nguyen Duc Chung said that the initial investigation results of the case of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties at Hoai Duc District General Hospital, Hanoi" showed that the tests were falsified for the purpose of paying for the health insurance money to be transferred to the hospital.

Hanoi City Police Director Nguyen Duc Chung announced the initial investigation results at the meeting. (Photo: Thuy Giang/Vietnam+)

Mr. Chung said so at a meeting of the Hanoi Party Committee's Propaganda Department to listen to reports and handle violations of Hoai Duc District General Hospital held in the afternoon of the same day, chaired by Politburo member and Hanoi Party Committee Secretary Pham Quang Nghi, with the participation of many departments and branches in Hanoi.

"Pickpocket" insurance fund

Speaking at the meeting, assessing the violations at Hoai Duc District General Hospital, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi emphasized that these were very serious violations that caused very unfortunate consequences at a district-level hospital in the capital.

“Through review and research, it is shown that the above violations show signs of intentional violation of professional regulations of the health sector and abuse of position. In addition, the violations at Hoai Duc District General Hospital are systematic and many times, many people participate together and especially show signs of brokerage and bribery. Therefore, the investigation and handling must be carried out strictly,” Mr. Nghi requested.

Referring to the police investigation work in recent days, Mr. Chung said that based on the documents collected in the files of the Investigation Agency, there were: 66 books to track test results, 33 books to track medical examinations and treatments, 41 medical records, 52 hematology test forms, 1 urine test form with test results attached that had been cut off; 10 photocopies of hematology test forms, 446 printed hematology test results and statements of related people.

Based on that evidence, up to now, the police have initially determined: From July 2012 to May 2013, the testing department of Hoai Duc District Hospital issued 2,237 test forms to patients, of which 1,149 were duplicate hematology test forms.

Specifically, there were 10 test results, each with results matching 3 other people (30 false test results).

There were 41 test results each matching 2 other people (82 false test results).

There were 1,037 test results, each with the same result as another person (1,037) false test results).

Three false test results of a 40-year-old patient with mental illness, a 3-year-old patient with bronchitis and a 1-year-old patient with diarrhea had the same biochemical and hematological indexes. (Photo: Duong Ngoc/VNA)

The above mentioned fake test forms were tested in the field of hematology, for outpatients who have health insurance for the purpose of paying for health insurance money to transfer to the hospital, then transferred to departments for common use and personal purposes.

Through investigation, it was found that the total amount of money the hospital had been paid by health insurance to serve the above test results was initially determined to be over 60 million VND.

Mr. Chung said: “Based on the investigation documents so far, Hanoi City Police initially determined that the complaint of Ms. Nguyet, Ms. Dinh and Ms. Dong accusing the hospital of printing fake hematology test results to pay the hospital's insurance money is correct. This fake work is intended to pay for the health insurance money to transfer to the hospital to transfer to the departments for common use and personal purposes.”

In addition, the investigation agency also had testimonies from laboratory technicians who said that the technicians took blood and urine samples... and sent them to the testing department, but the testing department ignored them. Currently, the investigation agency is continuing to clarify whether or not there was a case of linking the test results of one patient to another patient for treatment.

The head of Hanoi's public security sector concluded: "Based on the documents in the files collected by the Investigation Agency so far, it is initially determined that the creation of fake test results to treat patients was only for the purpose of paying health insurance and settling costs, labor, chemicals... for testing."

Currently, the Director of Hanoi City Police is directing the police investigation agencies to urgently collect documents to clarify the personal responsibilities of the hospital director, accountant, related staff at the hospital and related individuals of the health insurance agency in order to promptly prosecute the individuals who have violated the law.

Praise the whistleblower

Concluding the conference, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi emphasized: “After the above incident, the authorities must learn from the urgency and sensitivity of the inspection staff. Currently, the inspection force lacks those sensitive qualities. Because to resolve the above violations, the proactive part should come from the authorities first, not waiting for the press to speak out before taking strong action like in the recent past.

Ms. Hoang Thi Nguyet - Technician of the Laboratory Department of Hoai Duc District General Hospital - the person who wrote the petition denouncing the violations. (Photo: Duong Ngoc/VNA)

Regarding the person who discovered the violations at Hoai Duc District General Hospital, Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi welcomed and praised Ms. Nguyet - the person who dared to stand up and write a petition to denounce such serious violations that had occurred over such a long period of time and suggested that the person who stood up to discover and fight against negativity should be commended and rewarded to the maximum extent.

Second, Mr. Pham Quang Nghi praised the press agencies that have recently published information and criticized the above wrongdoings in a timely manner.

Third, a number of relevant authorities have recently made efforts and determination to handle the matter.

The Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee requested the Department of Health to continue implementing the direction of the City People's Committee on handling violations, continue to complete the assessment of violations and proactively propose handling measures; Strengthen hospital management and continue to learn from experience throughout the industry.

Regarding the police force, Mr. Pham Quang Nghi requested that this force urgently and strictly handle the case; clarify the case of socialization of the pharmaceutical company.../.

According to Vietnam+ - LT