Dak Lak: Strictly handle the case of 480 cases of laser lithotripsy when the machine was broken

On September 18, the Dak Lak Department of Health held a meeting to provide information to the press about the content of "480 cases of laser lithotripsy at the Central Highlands General Hospital during the time the lithotripsy machine was broken" which received public attention.

Mr. Nay Phi La, Director of Dak Lak Department of Health, said that the doctors and staff involved in the incident did not follow the correct treatment procedures as prescribed by the Ministry of Health , which is a violation of professional ethics.

The Department of Health's viewpoint is to strictly handle the officers and employees who have violated the case. In particular, after clarifying the case, the Department will advise the Department of Home Affairs and the Provincial People's Committee to take disciplinary action against the Hospital Board of Directors and the Department of Health Board of Directors in directing and operating when the above problems occur.

At the meeting, a representative of the Central Highlands General Hospital said that in July 2025, the Hospital organized an inspection of professional activities at the Department of Nephrology and Urology. From March 28, 2024 to May 15, 2024 and from May 28, 2024 to December 31, 2024, the Hospital's laser lithotripsy machine was broken, but the payment records still performed the technical service of "endoscopic lithotripsy."

The hospital representative explained that from November 2023, the hospital's laser lithotripsy machine (put into use in 2015) had its capacity reduced. The Central Highlands General Hospital borrowed a laser lithotripsy machine from a company in Ho Chi Minh City from the end of November 2023 to May 30, 2024 to treat patients.

Of the 480 cases treated at the Hospital's Department of Nephrology and Urology, from November 2023 to July 2025, 255 cases were incorrectly assigned the technical service code "endoscopic lithotripsy" in health insurance payments. The remaining patients were treated with other specialized measures.

After the inspection results, in August 2025, the Hospital's Disciplinary Council issued a disciplinary decision in the form of a Warning to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoang, former Head of the Department of Nephrology and Urology, and disciplined 3 other officers and employees of the Hospital related to the process of performing the technical service of "laser lithotripsy" during the period when the laser lithotripsy machine was broken.

Ms. Le Ka Thuy, Deputy Director of the Central Highlands General Hospital, said that the Dak Lak Department of Health and the Hospital are continuing to coordinate and provide relevant records and documents to the Provincial Police to continue clarifying the case and handling it according to regulations; coordinate with the Provincial Social Insurance to resolve payment of costs related to the technical service "endoscopic lithotripsy" and the technical service "endoscopic ureteral catheterization" in health insurance payment; develop a plan for free health examinations for 255 cases of incorrect application of the technical service code "endoscopic lithotripsy" to ensure the rights of patients./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dak-lak-xu-ly-nghiem-vu-viec-480-truong-hop-tan-soi-laser-khi-may-bi-hong-post1062623.vnp