Senior officials to be disciplined over Viet A test kit scandal

The Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee has proposed disciplining Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long and other ranking officials for their accountability linked to wrongdoings at the COVID-19 test kit case at Viet A company.

Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh (L) and Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long, who are both Party Central Committee members, are said to be held accountable for wrongdoings linked to the Viet A test kit scandal.

Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh (L) and Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long, who are both Party Central Committee members, are said to be held accountable for wrongdoings linked to the Viet A test kit scandal.

During a review meeting from March 28-31, the commission concluded that the leaders of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and Ministry of Health (MoH) had shown a lack of responsibility and lax management, leading to wrongdoings at Viet A company.

The commission named several officials who must bear shared responsibility for those wrongdoings and violations as well as individual responsibility for their mistakes in performing assigned duties and tasks. They included Party Central Committee membe and Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh, who was former MoST Minister; Party Central Committee member and Health Nguyen Thanh Long, MoST Deputy Minister Pham Cong Tac, and MoH Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Son.

The commission said that those wrongdoings and violations have had serious consequences, causing a great material loss to the State, fuelling public anger, and damaging the reputation of the Party organizations and the two ministries. It held that these officials involved must be disciplined.

The commission also decided on disciplinary measures on a number of officials of the Vietnam Military Medical University in connection with the Viet A case.

Last December, the police arrested and initiated legal proceedings against Phan Quoc Viet, general director of Viet A Technologies, for raising the price of RT-PCR COVID-19 test kits and giving bribery to health officials to sell their test kits.

The initial investigation showed that Viet and key leaders of the company had admitted to colluding with leaders of hospitals and provincial Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) to supply COVID-19 test kits to hospitals and CDCs these units at prices set by the company, which were much higher than the production price. 

The Ministry of Public Security had also found signs of wrongdoings in the management, research and transfer of the scientific project on COVID-19 test kits at the MoST and in licensing the circulation of the test kits and the negotiation of COVID-19 test kit price with Viet A Company at the MoH.

VOV

Other News

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

PSNews - The spokesperson stated that the dispatch of personnel by relevant parties to features belonging to Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty under international law. She stressed that such actions run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

PSNews - Vietnam’s proposals placed the highest priority on ensuring a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued sustainable development and improving the well-being and happiness of the ASEAN people. They were praised by member states and incorporated into the core contents of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam highly values the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in strengthening national capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, drug control, and addressing emerging challenges, particularly cybercrime, said Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang.

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Consolidating the central steering committees for institutional and legal reform and for judicial reform is necessary in order to streamline organisational structures without reducing responsibilities, while ensuring clear accountability, measurable outputs and concrete results. Following the restructuring, the body will be renamed the central steering committee for institutional improvement and law enforcement, with the Party General Secretary and State President serving as its head.

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.