In the first 5 months of 2020, the pro-poor medical expense assistance program delivered by Sonadezi in collaboration with Dong Nai General Hospital rendered its support to 18 patients for a total amount of about VND 290 million.

These patients, while receiving treatment at Dong Nai General Hospital, had their hospital fees covered fully or, if they could afford to pay for some items, partly by the program. Mr. Thach Hoa, a homeless patient born in 1967 and suffering from pneumonia, is one of those fully covered by the program, for a total hospital treatment cost of more than VND 65 million. Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Van Tho, born in 1975 suffering from pneumonia and sequelae of traumatic brain injury, is also a homeless patient and was supported for 100% of his hospital fees (more than VND 72 million).

Mr. Nguyen Long Bon – Sonadezi’s Deputy CEO (in the middle) visited and presented its medical expense assistance to a patient from Long Thanh district – Dong Nai

Another beneficiary is Mrs. Tran Thi Xuan Quyt, born in 1940 (from Dong Ha Town – Quang Tri), was receiving treatment at Dong Nai General Hospital from December 18, 2019 to February 5, 2020. Ms. Quyt was hospitalized with severe pneumonia, septic shock, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease. Her family situation was very difficult. She moved to live in Dong Nai with her daughter whose son suffers from mental problems while her daughter works as a general worker with low and unstable income and could not afford to pay his hospital fees. Dong Nai General Hospital decided to use nearly VND nearly 21 million from Sonadezi’s pro-poor medical expense assistance to support Mrs. Quyt.

According to Dong Nai General Hospital, this is a very valuable support to poor patients who are being hit harder due to COVID-19.

The medical expense assistance program, targeting poor patients at Dong Nai General Hospital, has been jointly delivered by Sonadezi and its subsidiaries since 2018, even in the past two years of the pandemic. As of May 2020, Sonadezi has allocated VND 1.5 billion for this program, supporting 200 patients in difficult circumstances to receive medical services.

Mr. Pham Tran Hoa Hiep – Head of Sonadezi’s General Affairs Division (in the middle) visited and presented its medical expense assistance to a patient from Nhon Trach district, Dong Nai province.

On his visit to a patient receiving VND 50 million from the program, Mr. Pham Tran Hoa Hiep – Head of Sonadezi’s General Affairs Division said: “Since our launch of the program, Sonadezi is pleased to have been supporting poor patients to receive timely treatment. We have made three transfers, VN 500 million each, to the program, and will continue to do so depending on the needs of the patients.

“For this program, Sonadezi commissioned the Board of Directors and the Social Work Department of Dong Nai General Hospital to actively review eligible patients and decide the amount of support on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, whether it’s early morning or late at night, when a patient requests for support from this program, the Hospital can actively review his eligibility and make decisions to provide timely support to those in need. We found that this is a highly effective approach that targets the right patients who belong to disadvantaged groups such as the poor, the homeless or those having no family members around, triggering timely assistance to those in difficult circumstances,” said Mr. Pham Tran Hoa Hiep.

According to Dong Nai General Hospital, many patients covered by the program are those with extremely difficult circumstances and suffering from dangerous diseases such as traumatic brain injury, open heart disease, cerebral infarction, intracranial injury, etc. that often require long hospital stays or emergency treatment. As in the case of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Duoc, born in 1952 (Quyet Thang ward, Bien Hoa city) who suffered from cerebral infarction and high blood pressure, she had to stay at the hospital for more than 2 months with a total cost of more than VND 78 million. She is homeless, has no family members around, is not enrolled in a health insurance scheme, and is unable to pay hospital fees. Dong Nai General Hospital decided to offer her more than VND 28 million as its assistance and another VND 50 million from Sonadezi’s pro-poor medical expense assistance.

A patient was receiving a gift worth VND 50 million from the Social Work Department – Dong Nai General Hospital using Sonadezi’s pro-poor medical expense assistance.

In another case, PHTT (9 years old, from Group 2, Thong Nhat ward, Bien Hoa city) who had a ventricular septal defect since birth (congenital heart defect) was fully supported by Sonadezi’s pro-poor medical expense assistance program. This was also the second open-heart surgery for children performed at Dong Nai General Hospital in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray Hospital.

According to the Social Work Department – Dong Nai General Hospital, seeking external finances to support poor patients was quite difficult. However, for nearly 2 years now, this has been easier for the Hospital thanks to available supports to poor patients from Sonadezi. Under this program, the right patients will be supported on spot. This saves life and helps cover hospital fees of many poor patients. The hospital is now running 3 funds, namely the cancer financial assistance fund, the pro-poor medical assistance program funded by the province and Sonadezi’s pro-poor medical expense assistance program.