Specifically, according to the report from the Dong Nai Social Security Office, the issuance of retirement certificates for Social Insurance benefits to six multi-disciplinary clinics in the province does not comply with regulations, such as: Issuing certificates to patients who did not seek medical treatment, doctors signing certificates despite not working at the clinics, prescribing laboratory tests, imaging diagnostics, medications, etc.. without valid medical reasons to exploit the social and health insurance funds. In response to this matter, the VSS has issued multiple directives to Social Security offices in provinces and centrally-governed cities, emphasizing the need for regular review, inspection, and coordination with relevant authorities. In which, regarding to the case of retirement certificate issuance for the six multi-disciplinary clinics in Dong Nai province since May 2022, the Dong Nai Social Security Office has proactively cooperated with relevant agencies to detect and transfer the case to the provincial police.

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To ensure compliance with policies and laws as prescribed, the VSS proposes the following to the MOH:

Firstly, direct healthcare facilities under the MOH and provincial Departments of Health in centrally-governed cities to strictly enforce the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, Law on Health Insurance, and the Ministry of Health's healthcare procedures, while strictly prohibiting any acts of embezzlement or misappropriation of the Social Insurance and healthcare insurance funds.

Secondly, instruct provincial Departments of Health to enhance inspection and monitoring of the implementation of health insurance services, particularly for private healthcare facilities, within their respective jurisdictions.

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Thirdly, for healthcare facilities identified to have engaged in acts of embezzlement or misappropriation of the social and health insurance funds, they shall be handed over to the Department of Health for coordination with the provincial Social Insurance Office to implement strict sanctions as stipulated by the law (administrative penalties in the healthcare sector as specified in Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP dated September 28, 2020, of the Government; Article 23 of Decree No. 146/2018/ND-CP dated October 17, 2018, of the Government, ...).

In order to address the violations in Dong Nai, on June 3, the Department of Health in Dong Nai issued an urgent document to the provincial Social Security Office, agreeing to temporarily suspend the health insurance contract for four private clinics in Bien Hoa City (including Tan Long Multi-disciplinary Clinic, Long Binh Tan (in Long Binh Tan Ward); Tam Duc (in Tan Hiep Ward); and My Duc International Multi-disciplinary Clinic (in Long Binh Ward)) due to their involvement in the issuance of fraudulent retirement certificates to exploit the social and health insuarance funds. This suspension shall be effective from June 3 until the provincial Social Security Office and Department of Health in Dong Nai issue a new document or announcement based on the conclusions of the competent authority regarding the acts of embezzlement or misappropriation of the social and health insuarance funds by the aforementioned clinics.