How is Viet A’s test kit ‘clearing the way’ to 62 provinces and cities?

With a huge “commission” method and the help of a series of officials, the Viet A test kit was “cleared” to medical facilities in 62 provinces/cities, with extremely high selling prices.

The case of violations of regulations on bidding causing serious consequences, abuse of positions and powers while performing official duties, giving bribes and accepting bribes occurred at Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company and its units, At the same time, many officials and leaders were prosecuted and imprisoned at the same time.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long (former Minister of Health, left) and Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh (former Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, former Minister of Science and Technology). Photo: VNA Favoring right from the “egg”

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic broke out, the demand for epidemic prevention equipment was huge, especially test kits. In that context, the Ministry of Science and Technology approved a national research project on manufacturing COVID-19 test kits, with the expectation of a good, cheap and abundant “Made in Vietnam” product.

Military Medical Academy is entrusted with the task of presiding over the implementation, in conjunction with a number of members of Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company, including General Director Phan Quoc Viet.

Such a good purpose, but the process of implementing the topic has been distorted because of the impure motives of many individuals involved.

Specifically, the budget spends nearly 19 billion VND to serve the research of test kits. But when the test kit was licensed, it is not clear how, the results were transferred to Viet A Company. This company then distributes to medical facilities with revenue up to thousands of billions of dong.

Not stopping, the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology has posted information about the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizing the test kit produced by Viet A Company (actually not approved). After the Ministry of Public Security prosecuted the case, this information was removed because of “errors”.

To date, the authorities have determined that a number of leaders from the Ministry of Science and Technology have violated regulations in the signing of contracts, testing, acceptance, transfer, payment and settlement of funding for the research project of the test kit as well as in the implementation of the research project. communication, certification and reward proposal for Military Medical Academy, Viet A Company.

On the side of the Ministry of Health, this agency is the unit that licenses the circulation of the test kit of Viet A Company. The Ministry of Health once affirmed that the licensed products “have all been assessed as satisfactory, meeting the standards and quality of Vietnam and ensuring compliance with current regulations”.

In particular, this Ministry has sent an official dispatch to introduce the Viet A kit product with the selling price of 470,000 VND/test – the price determined by the Ministry of Public Security to be “exaggerated” – so that the Departments of Health and hospitals can take the initiative. Contact shopping for epidemic prevention and control.

To date, authorities have discovered that a number of leaders of the Ministry of Health have committed violations in professional assessment, inspection and supervision; licensing, granting circulation registration numbers; Price negotiation and purchase of Viet A test kit. In which, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, former Minister of Health, took advantage of his position and power to intervene, influence and support Viet A company in the above stages.

Phan Quoc Viet (left) and a series of defendants were prosecuted in the case. Photo: CA

“Strengthen the faucet” with bribe money

According to the Ministry of Public Security, after being licensed for circulation registration, Phan Quoc Viet colluded with leaders of medical units to validate the bidding documents, increasing the cost of the test kit by about 45%, to 470,000. copper/test kit.

This is also the price provided by the Ministry of Health in the product introduction dispatch sent to localities.

Up to now, Viet A Company has supplied test kits to the CDC and other medical facilities of 62 provinces and cities across the country, with a revenue of nearly 4,000 billion VND.

And to be able to “reach out” to each locality as mentioned, Viet A Company uses the “commission” payment method with a huge amount of money. Under the direction of Phan Quoc Viet, the company’s employees spent nearly 800 billion VND to give back to the leaders of medical facilities.

Initial investigation results showed that a series of accused, leaders of Centers for Disease Control and hospitals, were prosecuted and imprisoned for receiving money related to Viet A.

Typically, in Hai Duong, Pham Duy Tuyen, director of this province’s CDC, received an amount of up to 27 billion VND from Viet A. Through “lubrication”, Viet A Company has sold COVID-19 test kits to CDC Hai Duong through 5 contracts with a total value of 151 billion VND.

Or in Phu Tho, Mr. Tran Gia Phu, deputy director of the Testing Center of Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital, received more than 2 billion VND from Viet A Company, after advising hospital leaders to buy products. test kits.

Or in Bac Giang, Mr. Lam Van Tuan, director of the provincial CDC, colluded, colluded with Phan Quoc Viet and related people in organizing bidding to buy test kits produced by Viet A Company, with total value of more than 148 billion VND. Through a company, Viet A spends % out of the contract with 44 billion dong, which the company then remits to Mr. Tuan.

The Investigative Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security said that it is continuing to investigate and expand the case; review, distraint and freeze assets of the accused to ensure thorough recovery for the State.