Hanoi People's Committee has urged authorities to increase supervision over the operation of private health clinics.

Municipal health authorities recently closed down about 110 clinics after inspections revealed many medical violations.

Manydistrict and commune officials said they were puzzled about themanagement of the clinics, said the Committee's Vice-chairwoman NguyenThi Bich Ngoc at a workshop on November 4.

Inspectors from themunicipal health department visited 771 private health andpharmaceutical establishments and fined 371 a total of more than 3.4billion VND (142,800 USD), according to the department's deputydirector, Nguyen Van Yen.

He said as many as 110 private health clinics were suspended.

ViceChairman of Hai Ba Trung district's People's Committee Cap Sy Phongsaid a shortage of medical inspectors made it difficult to regularlyinspect all establishments.

The district's Health Office hadonly two officials in charge of private health, but they had to cover600 clinics and establishments, he said.

Phong proposed the municipal health department increase co-operation and guidance to help them.

Vice-chairwomanof Dong Da district's Ha Thi Le Nhung said the lack of a legalframework for punishing violators was another challenge.

Vice-chairwomanof the municipal People's Committee Ngoc admitted that the number ofprivate healthcare clinics was rising, but the number of medicalinspectors were the same.-VNA