Business owner bribed 71 billion to smuggle drugs into many hospitals

The prosecutor accused the former chairman of the board of directors of Son Lam Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company of bribing more than 71 billion VND to many leaders and officials of 13 hospitals and medical centers across the country to facilitate the supply of drugs.

Former Chairman of Son Lam Pham Van Cach was accused of paying bribes to facilitate the supply of medicine to hospitals - Photo: Provided by the police

Mr. Pham Van Cach (former chairman of Son Lam Pharmaceutical Company) and Le Van Tinh (former deputy director) have just been prosecuted by the Supreme People's Procuracy for fraud, appropriation of property and bribery.

In the same case, 18 leaders and officials of 13 traditional medicine hospitals and medical centers were proposed to be prosecuted for bribery.

In addition, former director of Bac Giang Provincial Social Insurance Than Duc Lai was prosecuted for bribery.

Hospital director asks for 20-25% commission

According to the indictment, Son Lam Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company specializes in selling oriental medicine and herbal medicine in stores and producing oriental medicine and herbal medicine. It has won bids to supply medicine to many hospitals across the country.

To facilitate the drug supply process, Mr. Cach paid money to a number of authorized individuals at hospitals and medical centers before, during or after the contract was executed.

At the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Traditional Medicine, between 2017 and 2023, Son Lam Company won 10 contracts to supply medicinal materials worth more than 230 billion VND. Director Huynh Nguyen Loc plays a decisive role in selecting contractors and implementing purchases.

The investigation agency accused Mr. Loc of asking Mr. Cach to pay a commission of 20-25% on a purchase invoice, excluding VAT.

The money was given directly to Mr. Loc or through employee Pham Van Chuan. The bribe was usually given after each payment for medicinal materials from Son Lam Company or when Mr. Loc needed money urgently.

In order to avoid being made difficult by the director, Mr. Cach agreed. The total amount of money Mr. Loc received was 47.1 billion VND. Of which, Mr. Loc directly received 500 million VND once, 34 times directed Chuan to receive 26.8 billion VND through a bank account, and 12 times gave Chuan 4.7 billion VND in cash.

At Tay Ninh Provincial Traditional Medicine Hospital, from 2017-2020, Son Lam Company signed 6 contracts to supply medicinal herbs and traditional medicines, worth 16.8 billion VND.

During the implementation, Ms. Dinh Thi Mong Thanh, deputy director in charge of the hospital, asked Son Lam to pay 20% personal commission and 17% to the head of the finance and accounting department, Nguyen Thi Hieu. Mr. Cao Huu Hang, deputy director of the hospital, also asked the business to pay 1-3%.

In order to avoid trouble, Son Lam Company agreed to pay these three people. Of which, Ms. Thanh received 15 times with a total of 2.3 billion VND; Hieu received 16 times with a total of 2.6 billion VND; Hang received 9 times with a total of 188 million VND.

Directing daughter-in-law to transfer billions in bribes

At Hung Yen Traditional Medicine Hospital, from 2014 to 2019, Son Lam Company has implemented 6 contracts to supply traditional medicine for health insurance examination and treatment. The total contract value according to the invoice is 21.4 billion VND.

During the implementation process, Ms. Quach Thi Lich, head of the hospital's finance and accounting department, requested to spend 10-15% on each purchase invoice (excluding VAT).

The investigation results determined that the money was transferred after the hospital paid for Son Lam's medicine. Mr. Cach directed his daughter-in-law to transfer 4 times to Ms. Lich's account, totaling 507 million VND.

Also in Hung Yen, Son Lam Company executed 4 contracts to supply medicine to Khoai Chau District Medical Center (Hung Yen) worth 4.2 billion VND.

Center director Vu Thi Ngát asked Mr. Cach to cut the 12% commission. Mr. Cach instructed his daughter-in-law to transfer 9 times, totaling 476 million VND to the bank account of Ms. Ngát's subordinate.

At Kim Dong District Medical Center (Hung Yen), Mr. Cach also directed his daughter-in-law to transfer 6 times, totaling 287 million VND to the head of the pharmacy department, Vu Duc Thang.

At the Thai Nguyen Province Traditional Medicine Hospital, Mr. Cach directed his daughter-in-law to transfer 24 times to Truong Thi Thu Huong, the hospital director, a total of 10 billion VND. This amount corresponds to 10-30% of the contract value proposed by Ms. Huong.

Using the same method, Mr. Cach bribed leaders and staff of several other hospitals to facilitate the implementation of drug supply contracts.

The prosecutor accused Mr. Cach of bribing a total of 71.1 billion VND at 13 traditional medicine hospitals and medical centers across the country.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chu-doanh-nghiep-hoi-lo-71-ti-de-tuon-thuoc-vao-nhieu-benh-vien-20250620091229944.htm