A series of violations at Nghe An Dermatology Hospital

No winning bid yet but still under construction

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 wrongdoing 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 based on 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 did not work at the hospital. Mr. Son confirmed that the signature on the contract was his 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 Board of Directors. 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 had 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 statistics on medical examination and treatment revenue in the draft project to establish the hospital higher 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 were no winning bid results, the hospital allowed Hoang Anh Investment, Trade and Construction Joint Stock Company to construct and dismantle and repair the roof of the Laser and Cosmetic examination room; repair the pharmacy warehouse and hospital parking lot in 2022. The conclusion showed that this was 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 dilapidated 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 the winning 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 "unauthorized" collection of money from patients amounting to more than VND1.6 billion. 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 and scabies tests from January 1, 2019 to December 13, 2021, the hospital collected money from 24,699 people for testing with a total amount of nearly 1.7 billion VND. Meanwhile, the testing department staff confirmed that during that time, the hospital did not perform fungal and scabies testing services. "Collecting money without performing tests 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 the violations of each individual and collective, 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 results of the approval of the Project to establish a hospital and the conditions for granting a license 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 money 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 of construction works, "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