Ms. NTT, who lives in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, went to VL Dental Clinic on Dien Bien Phu Street for a dental implant.
However, the doctor’s diagnosis shocked her—most of her teeth were severely worn, cracked, and decayed.
The doctor warned her that if she didn’t immediately get porcelain crowns for all her teeth, she would lose the ability to use them properly and might eventually need full-mouth dental implants.
A doctor named Kang began promoting expensive treatment options, charging VND5 million (approximately US$200) for each crown and a full jaw reconstruction for VND50 million (approximately US$200), along with VND20 million (approximately US$800) for each implant.
Then another consultant recommended upgrading her to a higher-grade porcelain crown with a lifetime warranty, which put her under further pressure.
NTT recalled, “They initially offered an exorbitant price, but after I refused, they reduced it to 100 million Vietnamese dong (about $4,000), including the implants.
But the clinic demanded an initial payment of 80 million Vietnamese dong (about $3,200), with the remaining balance to be paid in four interest-free installments.”
When she returned for surgery, a trap unfolded. She was forced to pay the remaining 20 million Vietnamese dong immediately and sign a loan agreement. The clinic seized her ID card as collateral and refused to return it. She was also required to provide the contact information of three relatives, or the surgery would be canceled and her deposit forfeited. Fearing for losses, NTT reluctantly complied.
The situation worsened. After several visits, the clinic, citing chronic sinusitis as an excuse, claimed the implants had failed to fuse with the bone, leading to recurring infections. They removed the implants, refused further treatment, and refused to refund the fees. NTT resigned, stating that sinusitis is a chronic and difficult condition to cure, and that the clinic’s actions had left her in a difficult position.
A similar situation was exposed at Viet Khang Polyclinic in Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City. An investigation by health authorities revealed that the clinic attracted patients by offering low-cost consultations, then repeatedly fabricated “new diagnoses” and pressured them to provide various additional services, resulting in rapidly escalating bills, sometimes reaching tens of millions of Vietnamese dong.
Kang Sheng Polyclinic was also found to have engaged in numerous violations, including unauthorized medical abortions, falsely arranged examinations, and billing for unrecorded services.
Tang Chi Thuong, MD, Associate Professor and Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, strongly criticized this practice of “fabricating illnesses,” calling it a blatant affront to medical ethics. He emphasized that while there is no official definition of “fabricated illnesses,” their essence is to exploit patients’ trust by fabricating false or exaggerated conditions in order to promote high-priced medical services.
Tang Chi Thuong also stressed that regulatory authorities must strengthen independent monitoring and “rapid response procedures” to crack down on fraudulent practices and protect the rights of patients.
Furthermore, the issue of drug dealers has once again become a focus. On July 30, health authorities held an emergency meeting with hospital leaders to discuss how to curb the illegal sale of drugs to patients.
Crowd control at hospital entrances remains a challenge, and drug dealers are misleading patients into seeking treatment outside the hospital, seriously disrupting medical order.
Tang Zhixiang emphasized, “While this isn’t a new problem, drug dealer activities have recently resurfaced. The health department maintains zero tolerance for any form of drug trafficking. This behavior not only harms patients but also seriously damages the hospital’s reputation and pollutes the entire medical environment.”
These incidents expose the practice of some private medical institutions exploiting patients’ trust through false diagnoses and exorbitant fees. The health department calls on all sectors of society to pay close attention to maintaining a healthy medical environment and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of patients.
