A series of irregularities at medical facilities are being accused of overcharging for the care of the dying.
A medical facility located in Tan Chau commune has been accused by residents of exploiting families with dying relatives by advising on unclear and unnecessary services and then overcharging them. Immediately after receiving the complaints, the Nghe An Department of Health formed an unannounced inspection team and discovered numerous violations.
Unannounced inspection
On the afternoon of January 8th, a leader of the Nghe An Department of Health stated that the unit had just formed an unannounced inspection team at a facility specializing in home-based patient care after receiving complaints from residents about numerous unclear fees. The inspection results revealed that the facility had committed many violations.
This facility was granted an operating license by the Nghe An Department of Health in 2018, with the organizational form: "Injection and patient care services at home"; Scope of professional activities: Injections, wound dressing, pulse counting, temperature and blood pressure measurement, patient care (in accordance with Article 31 of Circular 41/2011/TT-BYT). The facility is under the professional supervision of Mr. Nguyen The Bac; the practice location is in Hamlet 16, Dien Loc Commune, Dien Chau District (formerly), now Tan Chau Commune (Nghe An Province).
Through on-site inspections and direct interviews with the professional staff, the inspection team identified numerous serious violations at the facility. Specifically, the facility engaged in many professional activities exceeding the scope of its licensed expertise; failed to present professional certificates/licenses and employment contracts for the personnel directly performing the procedures; lacked a clinic sign and separate rooms for medical examinations and treatments; maintained no records; and did not publicly display the prices of medical services.
In particular, the facility also placed numerous advertising signs in violation of regulations, with content exceeding the scope of its licensed expertise, in sensitive areas such as the entrance to Dien Chau General Hospital, opposite Yen Thanh General Hospital and Quynh Luu General Hospital - places that could easily mislead people about the legality and professional capacity of the facility. Furthermore, the inspection team determined that this facility also organized outpatient emergency transport services without a license, seriously violating the laws and regulations on medical examination and treatment.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Le, Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Health, emphasized that medical facilities are only allowed to operate within the scope of their licensed expertise. Any actions exceeding the permitted scope, false advertising, employing unqualified personnel, or charging fees without transparency must be investigated, clarified, and handled in accordance with the law.
The Deputy Director of the Department of Health stated that the management of non-public medical and pharmaceutical establishments is strictly implemented according to Decision No. 2806/QD-UBND of the People's Committee of Nghe An province. This document clearly stipulates the inter-agency coordination regulations and assigns specific responsibilities from the provincial level down to the commune and ward levels to ensure uniformity and avoid overlap. "In that spirit, the Department will conduct a comprehensive review and resolutely require the cessation of operations for establishments that do not meet the conditions or have not been licensed according to the law," Mr. Le said.
According to the head of the Department of Health, this inspection is not only aimed at addressing individual violations but also at comprehensively reviewing and rectifying private healthcare activities in the area. In particular, the Department will focus on home healthcare services – a rapidly developing field but one that poses many risks if not strictly controlled. Tightening management is a necessary step to protect the rights and safety of patients. "When there are complaints from the public or the press, the Department of Health will conduct surprise inspections and strictly handle violations, regardless of the facility, with the highest goal being to ensure patient safety and maintain strict discipline in medical examination and treatment," Mr. Nguyen Huu Le emphasized.
Shocking revenue figures for home healthcare services.
Previously, according to Ms. VTT (residing in An Chau commune, Nghe An province), on the evening of January 3rd, her relatives contacted Mr. Bac's home healthcare and emergency transport service to care for her dying grandmother. Staff from this medical service then arrived at her grandmother's home in Dong Thanh commune (Nghe An province) to monitor and assist the patient.
Here, staff from the medical facility advised and sold Ms. T.'s family an inflatable mattress for 1.1 million VND and performed some medical procedures. Late that night, Ms. T. passed away. The medical facility staff advised the family to use a medication to prevent decomposition and preserve the body while waiting for relatives to return.
The total amount that Ms. T.'s family had to pay to the medical service facility was 11.2 million VND, including 2.5 million VND for doctor's on-call fees and ventilator, 800,000 VND for heart medication (2 bottles), 300,000 VND for protein supplements, 1.1 million VND for an air mattress, 4 million VND for cold-weather protection medication, and 2.5 million VND for medical supplies.
Ms. T. stated that after the funeral for the deceased was completed, family representatives contacted the medical service facility to clarify the charges but did not receive a satisfactory explanation. “The mattress this facility sold to the critically ill patient cost 1.1 million VND, while the market price is only slightly over 600,000 VND. Regarding the anti-cold medication, we were not informed of the type of medication and did not witness its administration to the deceased. When contacted, the medical service only explained it was formaldehyde, used to preserve the body and slow down decomposition, but refused to provide the name of the medication or its packaging,” Ms. T. reported.
This woman claims that the healthcare provider provided false information and showed signs of profiteering. After posting the incident on social media, Ms. T. also reported it to the police and provided relevant documents.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen The Bac, the person in charge of the aforementioned medical service facility, stated that during the service provision process, the facility's staff explained, advised, and reached an agreement with the patient's family. The prices of services, medical equipment, and supplies provided by the unit were in line with the general market rates. Regarding the "cold-prevention" medication, Mr. Bac said that the facility's staff brought it from Ho Chi Minh City, advised on its use, and obtained the consent of the patient's relatives before administering it.
“My younger brother wrote ‘cold-prevention medicine’ on the receipt, which caused a misunderstanding. In reality, this is formaldehyde, commonly used in forensic medicine and corpse preservation to slow down decomposition. The price of 4 million VND was based on the purchase price and actual prices of funeral services,” Mr. Bac explained. According to Mr. Bac, the use of formaldehyde on the bodies of deceased individuals is not considered a medical procedure.
