A series of violations at Nghe An Dermatology Hospital

No winning bid yet but construction still underway

At the end of 2022, Mr. Le Quang N. (Head of the Department of Pharmacy - Medical Supplies, Nghe An Dermatology Hospital) wrote a resignation letter and said that he was worried about having to do illegal things. In the letter, pharmacist N. pointed out a series of signs of violations and he was afraid of getting into trouble with the law if he continued to work here.

Nghe An Department of Health has just issued a conclusion after 3 months of establishing a verification team following a citizen's complaint related to Nghe An Dermatology Hospital. The verification results of Nghe An Department of Health showed many violations at Nghe An Dermatology Hospital as reported by citizens, such as creating fake labor contracts for 7 nurses. Accordingly, the contracts were signed on December 31, 2020 and had a term of 6 months (from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021).

Mr. Huynh Phuc Son - Director of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital confirmed that these 7 nurses do not work at the hospital. Mr. Son confirmed that the signature in the contract is his signature and the above contracts were drafted by Mr. Le Quang Ngoc (former Head of Administration - General Department, Dermatology Hospital) and submitted to the director for signature.

Nghe An Dermatology Hospital was established in December 2019. Photo: Tien Hung

Mr. Huynh Phuc Son admitted that the above contracts were not real contracts, the establishment of fake contracts with 7 nurses was not discussed in the Party Committee and the leadership. On March 21, 2023, the Verification Team worked with Mr. Le Quang Ngoc. At the meeting, Mr. Ngoc affirmed that he did not remember whether he drafted those contracts or not, but Mr. Ngoc knew about the 7 fake contracts with nurses and he agreed with this action, because Mr. Ngoc said that at that time, the hospital was completing procedures to submit for appraisal to grant a license to operate medical examination and treatment at a new location according to Decision No. 3731/QD-UBND dated September 23, 2019 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on the establishment of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital.

Regarding the reflection that the hospital reported higher statistics on medical examination and treatment revenue in the draft project to establish the hospital than the actual data. The conclusion clearly shows that Mr. Le Quang N.'s reflection is true.

Accordingly, the actual revenue from medical examination and treatment (when Nghe An Dermatology Hospital was still the Center for Leprosy Prevention and Dermatology) in 2016 and 2017 was only over 1.7 billion VND, but in the Project to establish the hospital, it was raised to over 8 billion VND and over 10 billion VND respectively. In 2018, in reality, only over 2.6 billion VND was inflated to 12.2 billion VND. The authorities approved the inflated figure.

Examination area of ​​Nghe An Dermatology Hospital. Photo: Tien Hung

Regarding the reflection, although there has not been a winning bid result, the hospital has allowed Hoang Anh Investment, Trade and Construction Joint Stock Company to carry out the dismantling and repair of the roof of the Laser and Cosmetic examination room; repair the pharmacy warehouse and hospital parking lot in 2022. The conclusion shows that this is a violation of bidding regulations.

Regarding this, Mr. Huynh Phuc Son - Director of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital admitted that because some items in package 3 were leaking and severely damaged, in order to ensure safety before the rainy season and to put them into service for medical examination and treatment, the hospital director arbitrarily allowed the contractor to dismantle and repair them before the contractor had won the bid. By the time the contractor won the bid and signed the contract between the hospital and Hoang Anh Investment, Trade and Construction Joint Stock Company, the project had basically completed the repair items.

Another serious violation at Nghe An Dermatology Hospital concluded by the provincial Department of Health was the "illegible" collection of money from patients amounting to more than 1.6 billion VND. In the complaint, Mr. N. stated: "The hospital did not perform fungal and scabies staining techniques but still collected money from patients from 2019 to the end of 2021."

The inspection conclusion showed that, according to the hospital's report on total data on fungal staining and scabies staining from January 1, 2019 to December 13, 2021, the hospital collected money from 24,699 people for testing with an amount of nearly 1.7 billion VND. Meanwhile, the testing department staff confirmed that during that time, the hospital did not perform fungal staining and scabies staining testing services. "Not performing tests but collecting money is a violation of the law," Nghe An Department of Health affirmed.

People visit Nghe An Dermatology Hospital on the morning of June 12. Photo: Tien Hung

Continue to check and clarify violations

Conclusion No. 1645 of Nghe An Department of Health also pointed out violations of individuals and groups, in which Mr. Huynh Phuc Son alone committed the most violations as the head of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital.

Regarding the handling measures for Nghe An Dermatology Hospital, the Department of Health requested the hospital's Party Committee and hospital leaders to seriously review the groups and individuals that committed violations, and at the same time consider appropriate disciplinary measures for the violating individuals and groups (if any). The Department of Health also requested "Report the results of the review, take corrective actions and handle violations according to the authority to the Department of Health before June 30".

Regarding the incorrect data in the draft Project to establish a hospital submitted to competent authorities for approval and the creation of false labor contracts for 7 nurses, "these two acts are related to the approval results of the Project to establish a hospital and the conditions for granting licenses for medical examination and treatment. The Department of Health requests the People's Committee of Nghe An province to allow Nghe An Dermatology Hospital to overcome the shortcomings and limitations, and continue to conduct medical examination and treatment activities according to the assigned functions and tasks."

Regarding the violation of not performing tests but collecting money, the amount of which is up to more than 1.6 billion VND, Nghe An Department of Health said: "This illegal act is not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health. The Department of Health requests the People's Committee of Nghe An province to assign competent authorities to inspect and clarify this violation, handle or advise on handling according to the provisions of law."

Meanwhile, regarding violations in the bidding process, "The Department of Health recommends that the Provincial People's Committee assign the Department of Planning and Investment of Nghe An province to inspect, clarify this violation and handle it according to the provisions of law."

Treatment at Nghe An Dermatology Hospital. Photo: Tien Hung