(CNA, Reporter Hao Hsueh-ching, Taichung, 10th) Two directors from the neurosurgery department at Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TCVGH) were indicted by the Taichung District Prosecutors Office for allowing a supplier to perform surgeries. The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) consequently suspended the neurosurgery inpatient services for three months. Amid rumors that TCVGH would seek compensation from the two, the hospital stated tonight that it has not yet discussed whether to demand compensation from the physicians.
The director of brain tumor neurosurgery, Yang Meng-yin, and the director of minimally invasive neurosurgery, Cheng Wen-yu, at Taichung Veterans General Hospital were accused of letting an unqualified medical device supplier's personnel handle surgeries. Prosecutors found that the two doctors also received a share of the profits and indicted five people, including the doctors and the supplier, in May.
The NHIA also recently imposed penalties for fraudulent claims of consultation and surgery fees, suspending TCVGH's neurosurgery inpatient services for three months starting in August. The two directors were also suspended from their contracts for three months and one month, respectively, starting in August.
Some media reported today that the hospital would seek NT$180 million in compensation from the two directors. In response, Taichung Veterans General Hospital issued a statement pointing out that it is currently applying for a review with the NHIA and has not yet discussed whether to seek compensation from the involved physicians, nor is it aware of where the NT$180 million figure came from.
Taichung Veterans General Hospital stated that it will work diligently to negotiate with the NHIA to protect patients' rights to medical care and to continue the educational training and medical services of the hospital's neurosurgery department. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150610
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- Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
- Category: 事件