The Vietnamese Ministry of Health’s Medical Examination and Treatment Department has ordered that the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health investigate wrongdoing at municipal dental clinics that has been exposed by Tuoi Tre newspaper lately. 

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The request was made after the paper issued a series of three articles exposing a reality in which many dental clinics in the city are operating in the names of the dentists, who only lease their qualifications out to the owners of the facilities for a monthly fee, but do not actually engage in their medical activities.

These articles also unmasked self-proclaimed dentists at many unlicensed dental clinics who have been found having no practitioners’ certificates.

In addition, Tuoi Tre reporters discovered a ring that forged dentist diplomas and sold them for about VND50-60 million ($2,370-$2,850) apiece.

These certificates were counterfeited so skillfully that even city health inspectors could not believe them to be fake.

With a view to clarifying the issues revealed by the newspaper, the Medical Examination and Treatment Department has asked the city health authorities to launch an investigation into them and report the results to the department.

The department also demanded the city authorities to strictly punish dental clinics, dentists and others that have violated laws and regulations on private health services.

At the same time, the city health department is required to review the process of granting practitioners’ certificates and operation licenses to private dental clinics, and strengthen post-license inspections at these facilities.

Citywide inspection

Bui Minh Trang, chief inspector of the city health department, said that the agency is inspecting many dental clinics and dealing with their wrongdoing.

In May, city health inspectors will conduct inspections of all private medical institutions, with a focus on those offering cosmetic surgery, aesthetic services, medical testing, and imaging diagnosis, Trang said.

In the near future, a list of staff members at each private medical entity in Ho Chi Minh City will be posted on the website of the city health department for better supervision.

The department will also direct staff members be listed at every private medical service.

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