According to a Wednesday announcement, the Party's Central Inspection Committee proposed to the Politburo, the Party's decision-making body, to consider disciplinary actions for the Party Committee of the Ministry of Science and Technology during the 2016-2021 period, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Health during the 2016-2021 period, Hanoi chairman Chu Ngoc Anh who served as the science minister during the period, and health minister Nguyen Thanh Long. Deputy health minister Nguyen Truong Son, head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Dang Duc Anh and deputy science minister Pham Cong Tac received warnings. Deputy health minister Do Xuan Tuyen and chief inspector of the health ministry Nguyen Manh Cuong were reprimanded. There are four levels of disciplinary actions for Party members: reprimand, warning, expulsion and demotion. Previously in March, the Central Inspection Committee said the Party Committee and officials of the health ministry for the … [Read more...] about Hanoi chairman, health minister face disciplinary actions over Covid test kit scam
Alcat test kit
Kickbacks in medical equipment procurement exposed in Vietnam
Giving and taking kickbacks in procuring coronavirus test kits during the COVID-19 pandemic has been uncovered across Vietnam, with dozens of health officials arrested for involvement in price gouging for illegitimate profit by a supplier discovered five months ago. So far, more than 30 health officials, including three seniors from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science and Technology, and eight directors of provincial centers for disease control (CDC), have been arrested for receiving 'commissions' as kickbacks from Viet A Technology Corporation (Viet A Corp.), which had illegally raised prices of test kits to earn huge profits. The latest arrest took place on May 11, when Ha Giang Province CDC director Nguyen Tran Tuan and his two subordinates were apprehended on charges of taking bribes. They were found to have taken bribes of billions of dong (VND1 billion = US$43,000) from Viet A Corp. which they had handed in to police after their offense was uncovered. … [Read more...] about Kickbacks in medical equipment procurement exposed in Vietnam
Innovative logistics models in great demand: FedEx director
Hardy Diec, Managing Director of FedEx Express Indochina. Photo by FedEx Express What’s the status quo with the logistics industry? Supply chains have never been more important. More than that, reliability and accuracy in these supply chains have now become even more paramount. During this pandemic, the logistics industry has proven to be vital, whether in delivering critical healthcare shipments including vaccines and medicine, or delivering huge volumes of e-commerce shipments to end consumers. The pandemic has shifted consumer behavior greatly. The boom in e-commerce will continue to be a powerful engine of the global economy. We’re witnessing how essential supply chains are to business survival, success and growth - they are not just an opportunity to reduce cost. Businesses are rethinking their supply chains, moving to a "just in case" approach for inventory management to counter unplanned scenarios. Being able to receive products and critical components either by … [Read more...] about Innovative logistics models in great demand: FedEx director
COVID-19: Vietnam reports 1,895 new cases on May 17
COVID-19 test results shown on rapid test kits (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A total 1,785 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the past 24 hours from 4pm May 16 to 4pm May 17, according to the Ministry of Health . Hanoi reported the highest number of infections on the day with 419 cases, followed by Vinh Phuc with 119 and Phu Tho with 111. The national tally reached 10,699,965. A total 5,094 COVID-19 patients were given the all clear on May 17, bringing the number of recoveries so far to 9,364,857. There are 206 patients needing breathing support, while four deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the total fatalities to 43,071. By May 16, the country had injected 217,377,159 doses of COVID-19 vaccines ./. VNA … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Vietnam reports 1,895 new cases on May 17
Incumbent, former science, health, securities officials disciplined
The 15th session of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission was held on May 16 and 17. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — Disciplinary measures have been issued for current and former officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) for previous wrongdoings. The decisions were made at the 15th session of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission on May 16 and 17. In a communiqué released on Wednesday, the commission said it had implemented the 13th session’s conclusions on considering disciplinary measures for the collectives and individuals involved in the wrongdoings committed by the Party units at the MoST, MoH and SSC. Based on Party regulations, it decided to expel Trịnh Thanh Hùng, member of the MoST’s Party Committee, deputy secretary of the Party Cell and deputy director of the MoST’s Department of Science and Technology for Economic-Technical Branches, from the … [Read more...] about Incumbent, former science, health, securities officials disciplined
Vietnam court jails ex-health official amid anti-graft drive
HANOI -- A court in Vietnam on Thursday sentenced a former deputy health minister to four years in prison for his involvement in a trading ring for fake medicines. Truong Quoc Cuong, 59, who had been a deputy health minister since 2016, was accused late last year of helping local firms to import more than VND148 billion ($6.4 million) worth of fake medicines to sell domestically, according to a Ministry of Public Security statement. Vietnam authorities have stepped up an anti-graft drive with a recent series of arrests targeting prominent business people, market regulators and health officials. Dozens of senior health officials have been accused of wrongdoing in medical procurement, including claims they overstated the cost of coronavirus test kits. The Communist Party of Vietnam has also proposed disciplining the Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long for his "involvement in wrongdoing". It was unclear if Cuong pleaded guilty. He was convicted of demonstrating a "lack of … [Read more...] about Vietnam court jails ex-health official amid anti-graft drive