Đà Nẵng private clinic fined $6,400 for pollution

ĐÀ NẴNG — A well-known private health clinic in the central city of Đà Nẵng has been fined VNĐ150 million (more than US$6,400) for causing environmental pollution.

Huỳnh Đức Thơ, Chairman of Đà Nẵng City People’s Committee signed the decision on Wednesday, the committee’s office announced. 

Nguyễn Hữu Thọ Company, the owner of Hữu Thọ clinic, violated regulations on discharging wastewater. The water contained 11 times over the limit for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD – the amount of dissolved oxygen needed).

The clinic was told it must treat wastewater meeting the national technical standards before it is discharged.

It must report back on the results of efforts to deal with pollution in the next three months.

Last September, the same clinic was fined VNĐ134 million ($5,800) and had its business licence revoked for three months by the city People's Committee for violations including employing unlicensed Chinese physicians and overcharging patients. — VNS