Ministry of Health holds emergency meeting

Regarding the incident in which the leaders and several doctors of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry in Bien Hoa (in Dong Nai province) were arrested, Mr. Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director in charge of management and operation of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management ( Ministry of Health ), said that the Ministry of Health had received an urgent report from the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry in Bien Hoa about the incident.

Leaders and many doctors and medical staff of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry in Bien Hoa have been arrested.

"This afternoon, we held in-person and online meetings with hospitals and institutes within the forensic psychiatric assessment system across the entire system, as well as specialized departments and bureaus, to direct the review, resolution of difficulties, and support for this institute in terms of expertise and operation," a leader of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management said.

"The Ministry of Health has promptly reviewed and directed the situation. Whenever an incident occurs within any unit under the Ministry of Health's management, we immediately have solutions in place," added Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan.

The Ministry of Health conducts surprise inspections of forensic psychiatric assessments.

According to the Ministry of Health, this afternoon, along with issuing a directive to rectify the work of forensic psychiatry, Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen will chair a meeting with relevant units today to directly hear about related issues.

"It's not that the Ministry of Health only took corrective action after this incident occurred; we had already issued numerous directives on these matters beforehand," the Minister of Health affirmed.

Earlier, on the morning of June 17th, the Ministry of Health sent a document to relevant units requesting a review of forensic psychiatric assessment work. It requested that forensic psychiatric units strengthen information exchange with investigative agencies and the procuratorate regarding the situation and results of assessments based on requests; only accept assessments when complete documentation is available as per regulations; and only hand over assessment conclusions and assessed subjects to individuals and organizations in accordance with the law.

The Ministry of Health also directed the Ministry's Inspectorate to take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management to review the relevant units before June 30th.

Since 2023, the Ministry of Health has issued directives to rectify the work of forensic psychiatry, which state: "The head of the unit shall be held legally responsible if a summary of a psychiatric medical record is issued that does not accurately reflect the mental illness and does not comply with legal regulations."

The Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry in Bien Hoa ( Dong Nai province ) is a unit under the Ministry of Health that receives, examines, and treats psychiatric patients in need. At the same time, it is also a facility that conducts forensic psychiatric assessments in accordance with the law to support the investigative activities of judicial agencies.

On June 16, the Ministry of Public Security arrested the Director and Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry in Bien Hoa, following the arrest of several doctors and nurses from the institute.

According to initial information, the arrests were made to investigate and clarify irregularities in the treatment and certification of mental health conditions for patients. This is a special case established and investigated by the Ministry of Public Security over the past period.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lanh-dao-vien-phap-y-tam-than-bien-hoa-bi-bat-bo-y-te-hop-gap-185240617195825814.htm