Ho Chi Minh City proposes free kidney dialysis for over 9,000 patients

Ho Chi Minh City is proposing a significant financial support package to ease the burden on its kidney dialysis patients. The city's Health Department has submitted a proposal to the municipal People's Committee to implement a policy that would cover 100% of the co-payment costs for more than 9,000 individuals undergoing treatment.

The policy targets patients with end-stage chronic kidney failure who are receiving regular hemodialysis or cyclical peritoneal dialysis. While the health insurance fund covers a substantial portion of the treatment costs, patients are still required to pay a co-payment. This recurring expense, coupled with the lifelong nature of the treatment, places a considerable financial strain on patients and their families.

According to the Health Department, end-stage chronic kidney disease is a severe condition requiring lifelong renal replacement therapy. Patients typically undergo hemodialysis 12 times a month or peritoneal dialysis 30 times a month. The department estimates that in 2026, approximately 9,091 patients will benefit from this proposed support, with the total co-payment cost estimated at around 165.85 billion Vietnamese dong per year.

The initiative is seen as a humanitarian policy aimed at reducing healthcare costs for vulnerable groups and aligning with the city's socio-economic development goals. The Health Department highlighted that the prolonged treatment often diminishes patients' ability to work, reduces their income, and can even force them to cut back on essential needs or reduce treatment frequency due to financial constraints, increasing the risk of complications and impacting their quality of life and survival.

The proposed support would be directly deducted at healthcare facilities, eliminating the need for patients to file reimbursement claims. Hospitals would consolidate data for settlement with the city's budget. The policy applies to patients with health insurance, receiving treatment in Ho Chi Minh City, and who have been registered residents or temporary residents for at least 12 consecutive months.