On June 10, the Investigation Police Agency of Can Tho City Police officially served the administrative penalty decision on the hospital, which operates as a branch of Viet Cuong Medical Investment Joint Stock Company.

The facility was found responsible for three environmental violations that occurred on April 17.

One violation involved wastewater from the hospital’s laundry area and waste collection site being discharged into the city’s drainage system with pollutant levels exceeding permitted technical standards by more than ten times.

A second violation concerned wastewater from the hospital’s centralized treatment system, which was released into the municipal drainage network after treatment but still exceeded environmental standards by more than ten times.

Authorities also determined that the hospital had installed pipes and equipment allowing untreated wastewater from the laundry and waste collection areas to be discharged directly into the environment, in breach of conditions specified in its environmental permit.

In addition to the financial penalty, authorities ordered the suspension of pollution-generating activities associated with the waste sources for four and a half months.

The hospital’s environmental permit was also revoked for the same period. It has been required to implement remediation measures and ensure all wastewater meets regulatory standards before being discharged into the environment.

According to investigators, the hospital proactively addressed the violations by sealing discharge points, dismantling the unauthorized pipeline system and collecting all wastewater for treatment through its centralized processing system.

As a result, authorities did not impose additional measures requiring the demolition of facilities or equipment used for the illegal discharge.

The case began after the Economic Police Division of Can Tho City Police detected signs that wastewater generated by the hospital's operations was causing environmental pollution and affecting nearby residents.

During a surprise inspection, officials found that wastewater from the hospital’s domestic waste storage area and laundry facilities was not being directed to the hospital’s wastewater treatment system.

Instead, it was discharged directly into the residential drainage network serving urban areas along Nguyen Van Cu Street.

Inspectors collected two wastewater samples for laboratory analysis, which later provided the basis for identifying the violations and issuing the administrative sanctions.

Hoai Thanh