The HCM City Department of Health has launched hotlines to receive reports from citizens about fraud calls. — VNS Photo www.sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Health has launched hotlines 0967771010 and 02839307916 to receive reports from citizens about cases of fraud.

The department has urged the public to be alert to all phone calls and messages from strange numbers to avoid being scammed.

Recently, Chợ Rẫy Hospital reported that it had received many cases of parents being tricked into having their children hospitalised, with a demand to transfer money for emergency surgery.

The person on the phone claimed to be a doctor at the hospital and told the parents to transfer large amounts of money immediately to save their children's lives.

Last week, the Children’s Hospital No. 1 discovered two cases of forged signatures and a counterfeit seal of the hospital’s director used in letters providing information about patients' medical status to ask for donations.

The hospital affirmed that its department of social work is the only unit authorised to receive donations to help poor patients.

In addition, all children receive medical treatment even if they can’t afford the healthcare costs, it said.

Therefore, the Department of Health has asked medical facilities at all levels to manage the individual medical record system and ensure health records of patients remain confidential.

It has also asked for the prompt reporting to its inspectors and the city’s public security force of any fake information and documents related to patients being treated. — VNS