Hospital director suspended following deaths of eight kidney patients

The director of Hoa Binh Provincial General Hospital and two other doctors have been suspended following the deaths of eight kidney patients who were receiving dialysis at the hospital.

The director of Hoa Binh Provincial General Hospital and two other doctors have been suspended following the deaths of eight kidney patients who were receiving dialysis at the hospital.

The director of Hoa Binh Provincial General Hospital, Truong Quy Duong speaks at a meeting about the incident on June 7.

Director of the provincial Department of Health, Tran Quang Khanh, told local media on Thursday that they have just announced the suspension of the hospital director Truong Quy Duong and two other staff, Tran Van Son from the medical equipment maintenance department, and Do Thi Diep from the dialysis department.

Eight out of 18 kidney patients who were receiving dialysis at Hoa Binh Provincial General Hospital died on May 29.

10 others were transferred to Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi for further treatment and will be discharged today, June 8.

First investigations showed that the water used in the dialysis was likely the cause of the incident according to the investigation team, making the incident one of the most serious in many years.

Director of the hospital Truong Quy Duong issued an apology and admitted his responsibilities.

"The final investigation results will pinpoint the responsibility of each individual involved in this case but as the head of the hospital, I am willing to accept the highest punishment," Duong said.