Police investigate alleged fraud linked to purchase of Covid-19 testing machines in Hanoi

Police have inquired some officials of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to clarify on the procurement of Covid-19 testing equipment, VnExpress quoted Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung as saying at a meeting on April 17.

Chung said that the municipal Department of Health has been assigned to procure medical equipment for the epidemic prevention and control and he himself has also repeatedly asked for transparent procurement, ensuring quality and quantity of the equipment purchased.

The Hanoi CDC has tested Covid-19 for thousands of people linked to the city’s outbreaks. Photo: Giang Huy

Besides, Hanoi police and the Department of Industry and Trade have been requested to regularly inspect and handle the companies which have supplied overpriced medical equipment. However, there are still signs of embezzlement and "misdemeanor of the Hanoi CDC’s officials should not be ruled out".

"Wrongdoing must be investigated and handled strictly. In the epidemic time, wrongful acts are considered aggravating circumstances," Chung said.

The Hanoi mayor requested the Department of Health to review the entire process of medical equipment procurement during the epidemic prevention and control period of the Hanoi CDC and hospitals.

"In this period, fraud is not only a disappointment for the city’s citizens and the whole country, but also the international community," Chung said.

Hanoi has so far approved over VND1,200 billion (US$51,425) for anti-pandemic efforts.

Hanoi began mass Covid-19 testing on March 31. Quick test kits made in South Korea have been used at the Covid-19 testing booths and they will show results after 10 minutes analyzing blood samples. The Hanoi CDC took more than 25,000 samples for rapid Covid-19 testing.

As of April 18, Hanoi reported 112 infection cases, of which 75 have been cured and discharged from hospital.