On 27/8, a representative of the Bac Giang Department of Health said the hospital has temporarily suspended three employees involved: Nguyen Thi Thiu (head nurse of the Intensive Care - Toxicology Department); Vu Van Giap (the driver from the Administration Department), and Nguyen Van Thang (escort nurse from the Intensive Care - Toxicology Department). These individuals were asked to submit a full report on the incident.
Nguyen Anh Tuyet from Hiep Luc commune, Thai Nguyen, said that on 15/8, her father suddenly became critically ill and was taken to Bac Giang General Hospital No. 1. After four days of treatment in the intensive care unit with no improvement, the family decided to take him home and asked the hospital for transport assistance.
When asking about the cost, Ms. Tuyet said the doctor informed her it would be "a few million VND," while the driver only said, "The fare will be calculated per kilometer upon arrival, don't worry, it won't be excessive." However, after the journey of over three hours, the driver demanded 22 million VND, later reducing it to 21 million VND (including 4 million VND for the escorting doctor).
After Ms. Tuyet’s father passed away on 21/8, relatives and neighbors, upon learning about the unusual fee, advised the family to report it to the authorities. On 25/8, after Ms. Tuyet shared the information on social media, the driver contacted her and returned 15 million VND, along with 1 million VND for incense offerings.
Upon receiving the information, the Bac Giang Department of Health instructed Bac Giang General Hospital No. 1 to urgently inspect and verify the incident, especially to clarify whether there was collusion between medical staff and external transportation services for profit. There is still no final conclusion on the matter.
A medical expert said that public hospitals do not have a nationally unified ambulance transport price list. Fees are publicly disclosed by each unit in their service catalog, following the framework set by the Ministry of Health. Usually, the price includes a base fee and a per-kilometer rate, plus surcharges for waiting time, nighttime/holiday service, and any required equipment or accompanying medical team. Some major facilities, such as Cho Ray Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, and the 115 Emergency Centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, publicly disclose their prices on their websites and update them periodically.
Meanwhile, according to regulations, private facilities are allowed to decide the fees for licensed technical services. However, they must declare these prices to the Department of Health, make them public, and post them for patients to see. This allows patients to agree on and choose services, as well as provide feedback on pricing.
Le Nga
