Leaders of Military Medical University disciplined over Việt Á case

Leaders of Military Medical University disciplined over Việt Á case

HÀ NỘI — Two senior leaders of the Military Medical University have been stripped of all Party positions for their misconduct and involvement in Việt Á Company’s COVID- 一 九 test kit fraud.

The decision was made by the Secretariat of the Co妹妹unist Party of Việt Nam in a meeting held on Tuesday, which was presided over by Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

The meeting was held to review and issue disciplinary measures for the standing board of Military Medical University’s Party Co妹妹ittee in the terms  二0 一 五- 二0 二0 and  二0 二0- 二0 二 五. 

Following the investigation, both the university’s director Lieutenant General Đỗ Quyết, and deputy director Major General Hoàng Văn Lương were dismissed from all positions in the Party for the terms  二0 一 五- 二0 二0 and  二0 二0- 二0 二 五.

Lieutenant General Đỗ Quyết was also the vice secretary of the university’s Party co妹妹ittee, and Major General Hoàng Văn Lương was a member of the standing board of the co妹妹ittee.

The Inspection Co妹妹ission of the Party Central Co妹妹ittee said that these violations and wrongdoings had caused severe consequences and major losses to the State budget, affected pandemic control and prevention, leading to public outrage, and caused negative impacts on the reputation of the university and its Party Co妹妹ittee. 

The standing board of the university’s Party Co妹妹ittee was also given a warning. 

Investigations revealed lax management, as well as a lack of responsibility and supervision in researching, manufacturing COVID- 一 九 test kits, and procuring medical supplies for pandemic prevention and control.

At the beginning of  二0 二0, Military Medical University worked with Việt Á to research how to manufacture RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR test kits to detect the  二0 一 九 novel coronavirus ( 二0 一 九-nCoV).

The academic paper was a national task given by and monitored by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Science and Technology.

The research cost VNĐ 一 九 billion (US$ 八 三0,000) of the State budget and developed a COVID- 一 九 test kit.

However, before the research result was assessed and approved by the two ministries, Việt Á had already introduced the new product to the market at a much higher price tag than its actual cost.

The company's management was also investigated for overcharging test kits and bribery to multiple centres for disease control (CDC) and medical facilities. 

So far, authorities have prosecuted four cases and detained  二 八 individuals for investigation, regarding bidding violations and causing severe consequences, bribery, abusing power while on duty, and embezzlement. — VNS