Deputy Health Minister Trần Văn Thuấn Detained in Bribery Case. Who Will Take Over His Duties?

Deputy Health Minister Trần Văn Thuấn has been detained while investigators examine an alleged bribery offense, leaving the Ministry of Health to temporarily redistribute a broad portfolio of responsibilities.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security said on Sept. 2 that its police department investigating corruption, economic crimes and smuggling had issued a decision to add charges to a criminal case. It also approved the prosecution of Thuấn, ordered his temporary detention and authorized a search of his premises for alleged acceptance of bribes under Article 354 of the Criminal Code.

The case concerns alleged accounting violations causing serious consequences and smuggling at Việt Mỹ Medical Investment Joint Stock Company and related entities and localities. Before his detention, Thuấn had directly overseen medical examination and treatment, rehabilitation, medical assessment, forensic and psychiatric forensic work, blood safety, new medical technologies, and the donation, collection and transplantation of tissues and human organs.

His responsibilities also included protecting and caring for the health of central officials, providing medical services at major Party and state conferences, international health cooperation, and directing the work of the National Medical Council. Within the ministry, he supervised the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management and the Department of International Cooperation.

Thuấn also monitored roughly 30 hospitals, including Bạch Mai Hospital, Việt Đức Friendship Hospital, Hospital E, K Hospital, the National Children’s Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

Health Minister Đào Hồng Lan told Tuổi Trẻ on Sept. 3 that the ministry had temporarily reassigned the fields under Thuấn so management would continue without interruption. On Aug. 25, Standing Deputy Minister Vũ Mạnh Hà had already been assigned additional duties covering treatment, rehabilitation, medical assessments, blood safety, new treatment techniques, organ transplantation, central officials’ healthcare, major state events and international health cooperation. Hà was also assigned responsibility for the National Medical Council, coordination with the Vietnam Red Cross Society, the two relevant ministry units and 29 central-level medical facilities.

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The ministry has temporarily assigned the fields previously handled by Mr. Thuấn, ensuring that management work is not interrupted.