“Big Pharma’s Greasy Palms: The 71 Billion Dong Question”

Investigators have identified as the main recipient and beneficiary of the largest bribe in this case. , former director of the Institute of Ethnic Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City, is accused of demanding a 25% “cut” of the value of each prescription, through which he received over VND 47 billion to facilitate a certain company’s drug supply to the institute.

Similarly, Truong Thi Thu Huong, former director of the Thai Nguyen Traditional Medicine Hospital, is accused of demanding a “commission” of up to 30% and receiving over VND 10 billion from the company.

In addition, the investigation agency identified a series of leaders and officials from provincial hospitals who also received bribes from Son Lam Company, including: Dinh Thi Mong Thanh, former deputy director in charge of the Tay Ninh Provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine, who received more than VND 4.1 billion, of which over VND 2.3 billion was for personal gain.

Nguyen Thi Hieu, head of the Finance and Accounting Department of Tay Ninh Hospital, although not directly involved in the negotiation, knew about the violation but still received money from the company several times, totaling VND 1.8 billion.

During the investigation, Ms. Thanh sincerely confessed and returned VND 2.2 billion as compensation for damages; Ms. Hieu returned more than VND 355 million.

In addition, Cao Huu Hang, deputy director of Tay Ninh Hospital in charge of pharmaceuticals, received VND 188 million and voluntarily returned the entire amount.

Vo Thi Kim Loan, former director of Ben Tre Provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine, received VND 940 million from Pham Van Cach and has returned the entire amount.

Nguyen Van Trinh, former deputy director of the Lam Dong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine, was authorized to sign contracts and received VND 955 million, which he returned in full as compensation.

Nguyen Duy Thanh, deputy head of the department at the My Hao District Medical Center (formerly working at Pho Noi General Hospital), was accused of receiving VND 626 million. Mr. Thanh made a sincere confession and returned VND 646 million, higher than the amount received due to over-repayment.

Quach Thi Lich, former head of the Finance and Accounting Department of the Hung Yen Provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine, was accused of receiving VND 507 million and returning the entire amount…

All the above-mentioned defendants have been prosecuted for the crime of “Taking Bribes” according to Article 354 of the Criminal Code.

Notably, the act of taking bribes not only involved high-ranking leaders but also spread to middle-level officials, from heads/deputy heads of finance and accounting departments to deputy heads of pharmaceutical departments. This system operated through an “underground” process, in which drug-supplying companies had to pay a percentage to be facilitated in winning bids. These actions have caused serious consequences not only economically but also in eroding people’s trust in the medical sector.