M. (R), one of the ring members who helps fast-track the ultrasound process at the Tumor Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, speaking with a Thanh Nien correspondent masquerading as a patient

Over 100 people were waiting outside the ultrasound room of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Tumor Hospital.

But many had to wait for yet another day due to the overload at the hospital, a common situation at public hospitals in the city.

But there is a lifeline for desperate patients if they are familiar with an underground ultrasound service at the hospital.

Acting on tip-offs from readers, Thanh Nien has found at least two doctors and two hospital employees who have fast-tracked the examination process for needy patients and charged them with unauthorized fees.

Thanh Nien contacted one of the ring members, identified only as M., and requested an examination at the ultrasound room.

M. agreed and asked Thanh Nien to show up outside the room at 7:30 a.m. on June 24.

When Thanh Nien correspondents arrived, the hospital was already packed with thousands of people. At least 100 patients were waiting outside the ultrasound room alone.

But it took just about 10 minutes for M. to lead a Thanh Nien correspondent to the ultrasound room while the others may have had to wait for two days.

Lien, a kindergarten teacher from HCMC’s neighboring Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, said she had queued up at the hospital since 5 a.m. on June 23 to get her number for an examination.

“It was not until 10 a.m. that I went for an examination and was told that I would have to undergo an ultrasound. I had to get another number saying I would be able to get the ultrasound at 12 p.m. today [June 24].”

“But how can a person go straight to the ultrasound room without taking a number?” Lien said, referring to the Thanh Nien correspondent.

Special fees

To have the ultrasound, the Thanh Nien correspondent needed to tell the doctor in charge of the ultrasound room, known only as B.M., that he had been introduced by M.

But the doctor went red when Thanh Nien asked for an invoice for the ultrasound, which cost VND300,000 (US$17.54).

The doctor eventually gave Thanh Nien the invoice despite the fact that the ultrasound records did not mention a patient number or the diagnosis of other doctors at the hospital.

At least three other patients told Thanh Nien they had sought services from the ring. The doctor at the ultrasound room had charged them without an invoice, they said.

The doctor then referred his patients with the results of the ultrasound to a private clinic of a doctor unconnected to the hospital in District 5, Thanh Nien found.

Thanh Nien also found the ring had “helped” between five to 10 patients per day, raking in millions of dong.

Reported by Dam Huy