Saigon Reproductive Support and Andrology Hospital performed IVF without technical approval

After a series of reports on "painful fetal sex selection" published in Tuoi Tre newspaper, the Inspectorate of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health discovered a hospital performing in vitro fertilization without approval of the technical list.

Inspectors of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health inspected the Saigon Reproductive Support and Andrology Hospital after a report from Tuoi Tre newspaper - Photo: DAN THUAN

On January 21, the Health Department Inspectorate said that after the article " The pain of choosing the sex of the fetus " published in Tuoi Tre newspaper on January 13, on January 14, the Health Department inspected the Saigon Reproductive Support and Andrology Hospital (belonging to Viet Phuc Saigon Hospital Joint Stock Company), located at 87 Ly Chieu Hoang, Ward 10, District 6.

Saigon Reproductive Support and Andrology Hospital was granted a license to operate medical examination and treatment by the Ministry of Health on March 8, 2024, in the form of a specialized hospital, with HCC doctors responsible for technical expertise.

As of May 31, the Ministry of Health issued a decision recognizing the hospital as being allowed to perform in vitro fertilization techniques, but the list of techniques related to in vitro fertilization techniques has not yet been approved.

The inspection showed that the hospital had committed the following violations: Performing in vitro fertilization techniques without having the list of techniques approved by the Ministry of Health as prescribed; Not performing the procedure of self-declaration of meeting biosafety standards for the laboratory.

In addition, the medical examination and treatment staff were not fully registered to practice according to regulations and did not operate within the registered time; this hospital also posted advertising content that was not approved by the competent authority.

The Health Department Inspectorate requested the hospital to immediately stop performing IVF techniques and related advertisements. The Health Department Inspectorate will continue to verify, clarify, and handle violations according to regulations.

Regarding gender selection, Dr. HCC does not admit to providing gender selection advice as reported by the newspaper. The Health Department Inspectorate will continue to clarify and strictly handle if there is sufficient evidence of this behavior.

The inspection team of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Inspectorate inspected the clinic located on Tran Binh Trong Street, Ward 2, District 5 after a series of articles reported by Tuoi Tre newspaper - Photo: THU HIEN

Previously, the Inspector of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health suddenly inspected the clinic on Tran Binh Trong Street, Ward 3, District 5 (Ho Chi Minh City).

This is the clinic where Dr. TTT consulted and performed gender selection for the reporter that Tuoi Tre reported on in part 1 of the series "The pain of choosing the gender of the fetus".

At the time of inspection, the Department of Health Inspectorate determined that the clinic had an operating license, the facility did not have a signboard and did not provide information on the gender of the fetus as prescribed.

Through inspection, Dr. T. added that the clinic cooperates with many hospitals, including Saigon Reproductive Support and Andrology Hospital, which the reporter reported in part 1.

Ministry of Health requires medical facilities and hospitals to prevent gender selection

As Tuoi Tre reported in the recent series of reports "The pain of choosing the sex of the fetus", over the past 19 years (since 2006), the gender gap at birth in Vietnam has remained very high, with one year seeing 114 boys/100 girls.

Tuoi Tre 's verification shows that there is a "market" for reproductive support, providing services for choosing the sex of fetuses, operating quietly.

With the "assistance" of professionals such as doctors, hospitals, clinics in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or brokers, many couples easily achieve their wishes by openly saying they want to have a "baby like the father" (boy) or a "baby like the mother" (girl).

After the series of articles "The pain of choosing the sex of the fetus" by Tuoi Tre newspaper, the Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health sent a document to health departments and hospitals nationwide requesting to prevent the act of choosing the sex of the fetus and verify and handle violations if any.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sau-phan-anh-cua-tuoi-tre-phat-hien-benh-vien-thu-tinh-ong-nghiem-khi-chua-phe-duyet-ky-thuat-20250121111324084.htm