Patient N.T. S (69 years old, Tuyen Quang) used to be treated at the Intensive Care Center, Central Tropical Diseases Hospital. The patient suffered from many serious diseases such as viral encephalitis, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and electrolyte disorders.
In August 2026, when she was eligible to be transferred to a provincial hospital for further palliative care, the family faced the worry of car rental costs. Understanding the difficult circumstances, the Social Work Department connected a "zero-dollar bus trip" to take her to a safe lower-level hospital for treatment. Not only connecting a zero-dollar bus trip, the hospital also supported a 40-liter oxygen tank to ensure the patient's health throughout the journey.
Ms. N.T. S's case is one of many patients in difficult circumstances who have been connected and supported by the Central Tropical Diseases Hospital to get a car home.
According to Master Dang Thi Thanh - Deputy Head of the Social Work Department, Central Tropical Diseases Hospital, since its establishment in 2019, in addition to supporting patients in difficult circumstances at the hospital, the department has found that many patients still encounter obstacles in returning to their hometowns after treatment.
Those who need support are mainly patients with difficult economic circumstances, families far away, who do not have enough conditions to hire vehicles to take them home after treatment.
For families with limited economic conditions, the cost of renting a car to take patients home, especially in cases where they have to lie down or need medical support on the road - is a not small amount.
From that reality, the Social Work Department has proactively connected groups and volunteer associations with 0-dong car support programs to find cars for patients.
We hope that through these bus trips, patients after completing the treatment process can return to their families safely and conveniently, reducing a part of the economic burden. But more than just a free bus trip, it is also encouragement and comfort for patients to feel that in difficult times, they still have people willing to accompany them," Master Dang Thi Thanh shared.
During the support process, Master Thanh said that the biggest difficulty is the source of 0 VND vehicles and limited support groups. At times, vehicle groups are fully booked or only meet some routes. Therefore, the Social Work Department regularly maintains connections with volunteer groups, car companies and people participating in community support activities to find suitable solutions when patients have needs.
In the coming time, the Social Work Department, Central Tropical Diseases Hospital wishes to continue to connect with many volunteer groups, associations, individuals and transport units capable of accompanying the program.
Each group, each bus company can support one route, a few cases, but if many people join hands, there will be many more difficult patients returning to their hometowns after treatment," Master Dang Thi Thanh shared.
