Police expose alleged scheme that caused patients pain before forcing them to pay more at Hai Phong clinic

At Phuong Do Clinic in Hai Phong, patients undergoing medical procedures were allegedly left in pain and fear before staff pressured them to pay for more expensive treatment packages, according to investigators.

Hai Phong police said on Sept. 7 that they had charged 19 people with extortion and tax evasion in a case linked to the clinic at 498 Nguyen Van Linh Street. Five of the suspects are Chinese nationals.

Investigators identified Lin Wei Min, also known as Lam, a 55-year-old Chinese national, as the clinic’s investor. They said he hired Vu Trong Tien, 35, to serve as the registered director of Hai Phong Medical Services Co. Ltd., and hired Tran Thi Thu Huong, 44, as deputy director.

The clinic mainly served patients seeking treatment for male and female health conditions. Investigators said prospective patients found the clinic online, contacted staff by phone or message, and were then directed to the address for examinations, tests and procedures.

According to the initial investigation, some doctors and medical workers used methods that caused physical pain while making patients anxious about their health. At that vulnerable moment, staff allegedly pressured them to switch to “premium procedure packages” priced many times higher than the services they had initially selected.

Police launched a special investigation after receiving public information and detecting irregularities at the clinic. Criminal and economic police worked with An Bien ward police and other units to examine the clinic’s operations and the roles of those involved. Investigators are now seeking former patients who believe they were forced, threatened or intimidated into paying more.