Following a string of high-profile scandals involving three psychiatric forensic institutions, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan issued an urgent directive on July 11 demanding tighter oversight and stricter adherence to regulations.

The move comes after revelations that some healthcare leaders and professionals had been bribed or manipulated into aiding criminal activity, sparking public outrage.

In her directive, the Minister ordered all psychiatric hospitals and medical facilities with psychiatric services to strictly comply with regulations on medical record summaries and mental health assessments.

These documents must not be exploited to help criminal defendants evade or reduce criminal responsibility.

"Absolutely no one should be able to exploit these documents to request psychiatric evaluations in an attempt to avoid or reduce criminal liability," Minister Lan stated.

This urgent action was prompted by recent serious legal violations at the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, the Bien Hoa Branch of the Central Institute, and the Northern Mountain Region Center for Forensic Psychiatry. The cases have drawn strong public condemnation.

On June 23, Hanoi police announced they had prosecuted 40 individuals, including 36 leaders and staff from the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and two "patients" undergoing compulsory treatment.

On July 1, authorities expanded their investigation into the bribery network allegedly offering falsified psychiatric evaluations and detained three senior officials from the Northern Mountain Region Center on bribery charges.

Minister Lan acknowledged that these incidents stem from a failure by some medical personnel to uphold professional standards and follow ministry guidelines.

She criticized certain leaders for lacking integrity and political discipline, making them susceptible to corruption and exploitation by criminal networks.

To combat such behavior, the Ministry of Health has mandated immediate reinforcement of supervision by facility heads.

These leaders are responsible for maintaining strict control over the treatment of patients under compulsory psychiatric care, as well as ensuring objective, transparent evaluations for legal and institutional use.

Facilities must also adhere closely to Decree No. 64/2011 of the government and all relevant Ministry of Health guidelines.

Institutions are now required to ensure that patients under mandatory psychiatric treatment cannot leave or escape from treatment centers, thereby preventing any risk to public safety or further criminal activity.

"The head of each unit will be held fully accountable before the law for any misconduct occurring within their facility," the Minister emphasized. "They must also guarantee the safety and security of medical staff carrying out their duties."

Vo Thu