HƯNG YÊN – Northern Hưng Yên Province’s Department of Health has proposed to impose a VNĐ110 million (US$4,400) fine on a local private health clinic.

The clinic is responsible for tens of boys developing genital warts after undergoing circumcision last week.

The health clinic was found to be providing examination and treatment services without a licence, selling drugs at its clinic and practicing examination and treatment beyond the permitted professional scope.

Hoàng Thị Hiền, owner of the health clinic, will have her professional certificate revoked for between six and 12 months.

The proposal was made following a meeting between the department and the National Hospital of Dermatology yesterday.

As many as 37 boys from Hưng Yên Province’s Khoái Châu District were reportedly hospitalised after developing genital warts between May 1 and July 15. All the boys had previously undergone circumcision at a private clinic in Dạ Trạch Commune.

Hoàng Thị Hiền, owner of the clinic, had been working as a nurse at Mễ Sở Commune’s Health Clinic in Văn Giang District and practicing at her unlicensed home clinic.

Nguyễn Đức Lộc, deputy head of the department, said the department would work with the hospital to clarify why the boys developed genital warts.

Lê Hữu Doanh, deputy head of the hospital, said the hospital would provide free treatment to these boys and would soon transfer technical treatment related to this disease to local health clinics.

Genital warts are caused by some strains of HPV, which can cause vulva, penile and anal cancer. The disease is often but not always transmitted sexually. – VNS