Magnificent clinic operating without a license

(Baonghean)-Operating without a license, advertising incorrectly about health insurance examination and treatment on the media - that is the situation at Bao Son General Clinic (Bao Thanh commune - Yen Thanh).

On March 10, 2017, Nghe An Newspaper received a complaint from people in Bao Thanh commune about Bao Son General Clinic (located in Hamlet 10, Bao Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district) committing fraud.

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

The petition reads: “Bao Son General Hospital advertised on Yen Thanh District Television and Radio Station, and directly went to communes in the area to announce directly on the radio with the content of health insurance examination and treatment for all people... but when people came to see a doctor, they were deceived because this was actually just a clinic, not a hospital.”

The petition also stated: “The clinic’s operating documents are almost non-existent, the doctors do not have practice licenses... all environmental issues are not guaranteed, there is no place to treat wastewater and medical waste... some medical equipment has no origin.”

Verifying the information advertisement on Yen Thanh District Radio and Television Station, Mr. Thai Duong - Head of the Station said: Bao Son General Clinic had an advertising contract with Yen Thanh District Radio and Television Station from January 17 to February 17, 2017, in the advertisement content is "hospital".

On March 31, 2017, the reporter had a meeting with Mr. Nguyen Van Than - Director of Bao Son Medical and Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Mr. Than presented the License to operate medical examination and treatment issued by Nghe An Department of Health, the date of issue was March 25, 2017.

Thus, the time when the people filed the complaint was March 10, 2017, this facility did not have an operating license, which is correct, and the license clearly stated that this was a clinic, not a hospital as advertised on Yen Thanh District Radio and Television Station.

The operating license of Bao Son General Clinic was granted on March 25, 2017. Photo: Tuan Duong.

According to research, Bao Son General Clinic started operating right after Tet holiday, nearly 2 months before the license was issued.

Explaining this issue, Mr. Than stated: At the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, we opened Bao Son Clinic specializing in internal medicine and ultrasound, which was granted an operating license by the Department of Health. By the end of 2016, we had a need to expand the clinic in terms of both facilities and scale of operations into a general clinic. Therefore, we closed the old clinic and opened a clinic at another location (also located in Hamlet 10, Bao Thanh Commune). The operating license of the old clinic was revoked by the Department of Health. Mr. Than also admitted that Bao Son General Clinic started operating after Tet without a license.

In the operating license application that Mr. Than presented, there is also a Minutes of Appraisal conducted by the Department of Health delegation led by Dr. Dau Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Health on March 8, 2017. According to the minutes, the delegation assessed the factors of organizational structure, facilities, personnel, medical equipment, scope of professional activities, and price listing; concluding that all factors met the requirements.

On March 30, the Department of Health issued Decision No. 308/QD-SYT.QLHN approving the scope of professional activities of Bao Son Private General Clinic. Accordingly, the clinic is allowed to perform professional activities within the scope including: initial emergency, internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency resuscitation, diagnostic imaging by ultrasound, electrocardiography, gastrointestinal endoscopy, X-ray, diagnostic testing, emergency transportation.

Announcement of the preferential medical examination and treatment program of Bao Son General Clinic. Photo: Phuong Thao.

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

"Regarding health insurance, the Clinic only implements preferential programs and discounts on the occasion of its opening, specifically: 20% discount for all patients without health insurance; 40% discount for patients with health insurance cards with a benefit rate of 80%; 50% discount for patients with health insurance cards with a benefit rate of 100%; 100% discount for 1/4 severely wounded soldiers, heroic Vietnamese mothers, disabled children, and people infected with Agent Orange. "The Clinic only applies this preferential program from February 20 to April 30, 2017 and has not yet been examined and treated with health insurance according to State regulations," Mr. Than affirmed.

Thus, the people's accusation that Bao Son General Clinic has been operating without a license is well-founded. However, up to this point, the legal documents have met the requirements.

However, the advertisement of the clinic must be clear, truthful, and not misleading; the authorities also need to have a closer inspection of the practice of medical examination and treatment facilities, to avoid "loopholes" that affect the quality of medical examination and treatment.

Phuong Thao - Tuan Duong