The lavish clinic was operating without a license.

(Baonghean)-Operating without a license and making false advertisements about health insurance-covered medical examinations and treatments in the media – this is the reality at Bao Son Multi-Specialty Clinic (Bao Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district).

On March 10, 2017, Nghe An Newspaper received complaints from residents of Bao Thanh commune regarding fraudulent activities at Bao Son Multi-Specialty Clinic (located in Hamlet 10, Bao Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district).

Bao Son General Clinic (Hamlet 10, Bao Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District). Photo by Phuong Thao.

The petition stated: “Bao Son General Hospital advertised on Yen Thanh District Television and also directly went to the communes in the area to announce on the radio that it provided health insurance-covered medical examinations and treatments for all people… but when people came for examinations, they were deceived because it was actually just a clinic, not a hospital.”

The complaint further stated: "The clinic has virtually no operating documents, the doctors do not have practicing licenses... environmental issues are not being addressed, there is no place to treat wastewater and medical waste... some medical equipment lacks proper origin documentation."

Regarding the verification of advertising information on Yen Thanh District Radio and Television Station, Mr. Thai Duong - Head of the Station, stated: Bao Son Multi-Specialty Clinic has an advertising contract with Yen Thanh District Radio and Television Station from January 17th to February 17th, 2017, in which the advertisement refers to it as a "hospital".

On March 31, 2017, a reporter met with Mr. Nguyen Van Than, Director of Bao Son Medical and Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Mr. Than presented a license to operate a medical examination and treatment facility issued by the Nghe An Department of Health, dated March 25, 2017.

Therefore, at the time the citizens filed the complaint on March 10, 2017, this facility did not have an operating license, and the license clearly stated that it was a clinic, not a hospital as advertised on Yen Thanh District Radio and Television Station.

The operating license for Bao Son Multi-Specialty Clinic was issued on March 25, 2017. Photo: Tuan Duong.

According to our investigation, Bao Son Multi-Specialty Clinic started operating right after the Lunar New Year, nearly two months before it received its license.

Explaining the issue, Mr. Than stated: "In late 2011 and early 2012, we opened Bao Son Clinic specializing in internal medicine and ultrasound, which was licensed by the Department of Health. By the end of 2016, we needed to expand the clinic in terms of both facilities and scale of operation into a multi-specialty clinic. Therefore, we closed the old clinic and opened a new one at a different location (also in Hamlet 10, Bao Thanh Commune). The operating license for the old clinic has been revoked by the Department of Health." Mr. Than also admitted that Bao Son Multi-Specialty Clinic began operating after the Lunar New Year without a license.

The operating license application submitted by Mr. Than also includes an assessment report from a working group of the Department of Health, led by Dr. Dau Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Health, on March 8, 2017. According to the report, the group assessed the organizational structure, facilities, personnel, medical equipment, scope of professional activities, and price listing; concluding that all factors met the requirements.

On March 30th, the Department of Health issued Decision No. 308/QD-SYT.QLHN approving the scope of professional activities of Bao Son Private Multi-Specialty Clinic. Accordingly, the clinic is permitted to perform professional activities within the following scope: initial emergency care, examination and treatment of internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, resuscitation, diagnostic imaging using ultrasound, electrocardiogram, gastrointestinal endoscopy, X-ray, diagnostic laboratory testing, and emergency transportation.

Announcement of the Bảo Sơn Multi-Specialty Clinic's promotional program for medical examinations and treatments. Photo by Phương Thảo.

Regarding the issue of medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance, Mr. Than affirmed that Bao Son Multi-Specialty Clinic has not signed a health insurance contract, and this has been clearly stated in all announcements and advertisements issued by the clinic.

"Regarding health insurance, the clinic is only implementing a promotional program with discounts to celebrate its opening, specifically: a 20% discount for all patients without health insurance; a 40% discount for patients with health insurance cards with an 80% coverage rate; a 50% discount for patients with health insurance cards with a 100% coverage rate; and a 100% discount for severely wounded soldiers (category 1/4), Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, disabled children, and victims of Agent Orange. “The clinic only applies this promotional program from February 20th to April 30th, 2017, and is not yet authorized to provide health insurance-covered medical examinations and treatments as stipulated by the State,” Mr. Than affirmed.

Therefore, the public's complaint that Bao Son Multi-Specialty Clinic is operating without a license is well-founded. However, at this time, all legal procedures and documents have been completed.

Nevertheless, advertising and promotion of clinics must be clear, truthful, and not misleading; authorities also need to conduct stricter inspections of the professional practices of medical facilities to avoid loopholes that affect the quality of medical examination and treatment.

Phuong Thao - Tuan Duong