Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn. — Photo from the Ministry of Public Security

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn has been arrested and prosecuted on charges of receiving bribes in connection with an investigation into alleged accounting violations and smuggling at Việt Mỹ Medical Investment JSC and related entities, the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday.

The Investigation Police Agency had issued a decision to prosecute Thuấn, along with an arrest warrant for temporary detention and a search warrant, for allegedly receiving a large amount of bribes.

The move followed an expanded investigation by the Police Department for Investigation of Corruption, Economic Crimes and Smuggling into a case involving “violations of accounting regulations causing serious consequences and smuggling” at Việt Mỹ Medical Investment JSC and related organisations and localities.

On September 2, the department issued a decision to supplement the decision to institute criminal proceedings in the case and took procedural measures against Thuấn.

The Supreme People's Procuracy approved the decisions and orders, after which the Police Department for Investigation of Corruption, Economic Crimes and Smuggling carried them out in accordance with the law.

The department is continuing to investigate the scale of the case, as well as the roles and alleged offences of the defendants and other related individuals, with a view to expanding the investigation, clarifying the nature of the case and fully recovering State assets.

Thuấn, who is from the northern province of Bắc Ninh, holds a doctorate in oncology and was conferred the title of professor in medicine in 2018.

He spent many years working at K Hospital and the National Cancer Institute. In 2016, he was appointed director of K Hospital and concurrently served as director of the National Cancer Institute. He also previously headed the Department of Oncology at Hà Nội Medical University.

In April 2020, Thuấn was appointed Deputy Minister of Health. From May 2023, he concurrently took charge of the Việt Đức Friendship Hospital in Hà Nội pending the consolidation of its leadership.

On April 4, 2025, he was reappointed Deputy Minister of Health. — VNS