The decision to suspend Thuan was announced on 6/9, four days after he was temporarily detained.

Deputy minister of health Tran Van Thuan at an event in 7/2026. *Photo: Tran Minh*

On 2/9, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan was indicted and temporarily detained by C03, the Police Department for Corruption, Economic, and Smuggling Crimes, Ministry of Public Security, on charges of receiving bribes.

This action follows an investigation into Viet My Medical Investment Joint Stock Company one month prior. C03 had already indicted and temporarily detained Bui Chan Phuong, former chairman of the Board of Directors of Viet My Medical Investment Joint Stock Company, along with two subordinates, Ha Van Nam, director, and Tran Thi Hong Hanh, head of accounting, for smuggling and violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences.

Viet My Medical Investment Joint Stock Company was established in 2007, with Phuong holding 90% of its shares. Public bidding data shows that since 2018, the company has won hundreds of bidding packages worth thousands of billions of VND.

C03's initial findings indicate that Phuong established and operated businesses in Vietnam, Singapore, and Hong Kong to purchase, resell, and inflate the prices of medical equipment and new drugs before importing them to Vietnam. Most of these goods had their prices inflated before being sold to domestic medical facilities, leading to illicit profits, budget losses, and affecting patient rights.

C03 also accused Phuong of exploiting import licenses granted by the Ministry of Health for main equipment to declare accompanying equipment, thereby importing other devices into Vietnam unlawfully.

Thuan, 56, is a medical professor and a doctor specializing in oncology. He is one of Vietnam's leading experts in oncology, having spent over 20 years in clinical work before transitioning to management.

He worked for many years at K Hospital and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute before becoming Director of K Hospital in 2016. He also served as Director of the National Cancer Institute, Chairman of the Vietnam Young Physicians' Association, and Director of the Bright Future Cancer Patient Support Fund. Since 4/2020, he has held the position of Deputy Minister of Health and Chairman of the National Medical Council.

According to an assignment by the Minister of Health in 10/2025, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan was directly responsible for areas including: medical examination and treatment; rehabilitation; medical assessment, forensic assessment, psychiatric forensic assessment; blood transfusion safety; application and development of new techniques in medical examination and treatment; and human tissue and organ donation and transplantation.

He was also tasked with overseeing: the protection and healthcare of central cadres; medical activities for major Party and State conferences; international cooperation in health; activities of the National Medical Council; and coordination with the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee.

Vu Tuan