Thanh HoaThree men were investigated for charging 9.5 million VND to take critically ill patients home from the hospital, increasing the price of vasoactive drugs 150 times.
On September 5, the Criminal Police Department of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police summoned Nguyen Cong Khanh, 29 years old, ambulance owner; Vo Dai Truong Lam, 35 years old, driver, resident of Hac Thanh ward, and Le Trong Hai Anh, 30 years old, student at Thanh Hoa Medical College, to clarify the provision of emergency services at unusually high prices.
The incident was discovered after a complaint from a family in Sam Son ward.
On August 1, a 58-year-old man was admitted to Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital in a state of septic shock, multiple organ failure, pneumonia, monitoring for acute pancreatitis, cerebral infarction and type 2 diabetes.
After nearly two weeks of treatment at Intensive Care Department I - Poison Control, the condition worsened and the prognosis was not positive. After the doctor explained, the family agreed to take him home for care.
The 16km trip costs 9.5 million VND
At around 10:00 a.m. on August 14, the family used the ambulance service that they were introduced to as "from the hospital."
According to reports, service providers proactively approached family members right at the treatment department, introducing themselves as drivers and hospital staff. When preparing to take the patient away, a person wearing a blouse appeared in the room, surrounded by many doctors and nurses, making the family believe that the bus was arranged by the hospital.
The distance from the hospital to home is about 16 km. The family was asked to pay a total of 9.5 million VND, including about 5.3 million VND for a car, rental of a ventilator and support equipment; 4.2 million VND to buy 7 bottles of vasopressors, each bottle costs 600,000 VND.
Suspecting the unusual fee, the family then posted the incident on social networks.
Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital confirmed that the bus and the people involved were not under the management of the unit. Revenues from vehicles, equipment and drugs used during transportation are also not a source of hospital revenue.
Adrenaline was declared to be purchased at 4,000 VND per bottle
The investigation agency stepped in and initially identified Khanh, Lam and Hai Anh as involved in the case. According to the police, the three people discussed and agreed on the collection and distribution of money.
7 bottles of vasoactive drug sold for a total of 4.2 million VND were Adrenaline. This group claimed to buy it for about 4,000 VND per bottle but sold it to the family for 600,000 VND, 150 times more.
After receiving 9.5 million VND from the patient's family, Lam transferred a part to Khanh, the rest was divided between Lam and Hai Anh.
When the patient passed away, according to the family, related people called many times to ask for refunds and compensation. Relatives refused to accept it and asked the authorities to investigate and handle it.
The Criminal Police Department of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police is clarifying the behavior and roles of each person.
After the incident, Thanh Hoa Department of Health requested medical examination and treatment facilities in the area to tighten patient transportation activities; Medical officers and staff are strictly prohibited from connecting or brokering patients with outside units for benefits.
Hospitals are also required to prevent individuals from providing services to solicit patients or taking advantage of the hospital's name and image to operate on campus.
