A family in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam, faced an outrageous charge of 9.5 million VND for a 16 km ambulance ride to transport a critically ill patient home. This incident has prompted an investigation into three individuals who allegedly profited from the situation by imposing excessively high fees for emergency services.

On September 5, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police summoned Nguyen Cong Khanh, 29, the ambulance owner; Vo Dai Truong Lam, 35, the driver; and Le Trong Hai Anh, 30, a student at Thanh Hoa Medical College, to clarify their roles in providing emergency services at an unusually high price. The investigation was initiated after a family reported the incident.

The patient, a 58-year-old man, was admitted to Thanh Hoa General Hospital with severe health issues, including septic shock and multi-organ failure. After nearly two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit, his condition worsened, leading the family to decide to take him home for care. On August 14, they utilized an ambulance service that was presented to them as being affiliated with the hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, the family was approached by individuals claiming to be hospital staff, which led them to believe the ambulance service was legitimate. The total charge for the 16 km journey amounted to 9.5 million VND, which included approximately 5.3 million VND for the ambulance and equipment rental, and 4.2 million VND for seven vials of medication, each priced at 600,000 VND.

After expressing concerns about the exorbitant fees, the family took to social media to raise awareness. The hospital later confirmed that the ambulance and the individuals involved were not affiliated with their institution, and the charges levied were not sanctioned by them.

Investigators discovered that the medication sold to the family, specifically Adrenaline, was purchased by the suspects for around 4,000 VND per vial but was sold to the family at a staggering markup of 150 times the original price. Following the payment of 9.5 million VND, Lam distributed a portion of the money to Khanh, while the remaining amount was shared between Lam and Hai Anh.

After the patient passed away, the family reported that the suspects repeatedly contacted them, offering to refund the money and provide compensation, which the family declined, instead requesting an official investigation. The Thanh Hoa Provincial Police are currently working to clarify the actions and responsibilities of each individual involved.

In response to this incident, the Thanh Hoa Department of Health has mandated that healthcare facilities tighten regulations on patient transportation and strictly prohibit any healthcare personnel from colluding with external parties for profit. Hospitals are also instructed to prevent individuals from soliciting patients or exploiting the hospital's name and image within their premises.