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Drug bribery case: Many hospital directors seek reduced sentences
🇻🇳 Vietnam /Economy & Trade

Drug bribery case: Many hospital directors seek reduced sentences

From Tuổi Trẻ · (1d ago) Vietnamese Critical tone

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Vietnamese authorities are prosecuting individuals involved in a bribery scheme totaling 71 billion VND to secure drug supply contracts for hospitals.
  • Several hospital directors and company executives are appealing their sentences after being convicted of bribery and fraud.
  • The case involves allegations of kickbacks paid to hospital officials to facilitate the sale of medications and medical supplies.

A significant corruption scandal involving bribery to secure lucrative drug supply contracts has reached the appeals court in Vietnam, with several high-ranking officials and business executives seeking leniency. The case, which centers on a staggering 71 billion VND (approximately $2.8 million USD) in bribes, has implicated former hospital directors and pharmaceutical company leaders. Vietnamese media, such as Tuổi Trẻ, are closely following the legal proceedings, detailing how companies allegedly paid substantial kickbacks to secure favorable contracts for supplying medicines and medical materials to public hospitals.

Ông Huỳnh Nguyễn Lộc, cựu Viện trưởng Viện Y dược học dân tộc TP.HCM (bìa trái) cùng một số bị cáo tại phiên tòa sơ thẩm

— Tuổi TrẻIdentifying key defendants, including the former director of the Institute of Traditional Medicine, at the trial.

At the heart of the scandal are accusations that officials, including former directors of the Institute of Traditional Medicine of Ho Chi Minh City and the Social Insurance Agency of Bac Giang province, accepted bribes in exchange for facilitating contract approvals and payments. For instance, the former Director of the Institute of Traditional Medicine is accused of demanding commissions of 20-25% on invoices, totaling over 47 billion VND. Similarly, a former Director of the Social Insurance Agency allegedly received hundreds of millions of VND in bribes to expedite payments for a pharmaceutical company. The scale of these alleged illicit payments highlights a systemic issue within the healthcare procurement system, where personal gain appears to have taken precedence over public service and patient welfare.

Tổng giám đốc Công ty LanQ bị tòa sơ thẩm tuyên phạt 15 năm tù về tội lừa đảo chiếm đoạt tài sản, 4 năm về tội đưa hối lộ, tổng hợp hình phạt 19 năm tù.

— Tuổi TrẻReporting the sentence given to the General Director of LanQ Company for fraud and bribery.

The appeals process brings renewed attention to the fight against corruption in Vietnam, a key priority for the government. While the initial verdicts handed down by the lower courts imposed significant prison sentences, the defendants are now seeking reduced penalties. The media's detailed reporting on the case, including the specific amounts involved and the roles of each accused, serves to inform the public and underscore the government's commitment to transparency and accountability. From a Vietnamese perspective, this case is not just about individual criminal acts but also about the integrity of the healthcare system and the trust citizens place in their public institutions. The outcome of the appeals will be closely watched as an indicator of the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures and the judiciary's resolve in tackling high-level graft.

Ông Quyền đã gửi đơn kháng cáo xin tòa phúc thẩm xem xét giảm nhẹ hình phạt và xin miễn trách nhiệm hình sự đối với tội đưa hối lộ.

— Tuổi TrẻStating that Mr. Quyền has appealed for a reduced sentence and immunity from prosecution for bribery.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tuổi Trẻ in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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