More Hope for Kidney Failure Patients in Remote Areas
After years of persistent preparation in terms of resources and community support mobilization, the Di Linh Regional Medical Center has officially launched hemodialysis services. This marks not only a major professional advancement for grassroots healthcare, but also a new lifeline for hundreds of patients who no longer have to endure exhausting journeys in search of treatment.
Bringing Hope Closer to Poor Patients
For many years, chronic kidney disease patients in Di Linh and neighboring localities faced a daunting reality: traveling three times a week to provincial hospitals or even to Ho Chi Minh City for dialysis treatment. Long trips beginning before dawn in the cold highland mist, combined with exhaustion after each dialysis session and mounting transportation costs, pushed many families into hardship.
That difficult journey has now become less burdensome. In early April this year, the Di Linh Regional Medical Center officially put its Hemodialysis Unit into operation, marking a significant step forward in improving local capacity to treat chronic kidney disease.
Le Minh Ngoc from Gia Hiep Commune was among the first patients to benefit from the new service close to home. What once required traveling hundreds of kilometers over several hours can now be done within minutes. Emotionally, he shared:
“It’s much more convenient now. Before, every long trip was exhausting, and my health deteriorated because of the travel. Now I can receive dialysis close to home without worrying about being late due to traffic or bad weather. The doctors and nurses care for me like family. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life.”
According to Dr. Le Thanh Quang, Director of the Di Linh Regional Medical Center, the number of kidney failure patients in the area is quite large, and long-distance travel not only causes inconvenience but can also interrupt treatment schedules.
“We identified early on that dialysis services needed to be brought closer to local residents so they could receive treatment with greater peace of mindin their hometowns. This has been both a priority and a long-standing concern for our entire medical team,” he said.
However, turning this goal into reality was far from easy. In addition to requirements for specialized personnel, technical systems, and strict legal regulations, the greatest challenge remained investment funding. It was not until late 2025, when more than VND 2 billion in funding was allocated, that the biggest obstacle was finally removed.
Affirming the Capacity of Grassroots Healthcare
The establishment of the Hemodialysis Unit at the Di Linh Regional Medical Center is the result of cooperation between state funding and socialized resources. The dialysis area was renovated from an existing facility covering more than 220 square meters. Renovation costs totaled around VND 500 million, most of which came from contributions by trade union members and benefactors. The center also received three dialysis machines and five hospital beds donated by organizations, businesses, and individuals.
Venerable Thich Nu Tinh An, one of the benefactors supporting the project, shared:
“Seeing poor patients struggle with constant travel for dialysis, and sometimes failing to receive treatment in time because of the distance, was heartbreaking. That’s why the temple and donors joined hands to contribute medical equipment and hospital beds, hoping to ease some of the suffering for these patients.”
To operate the hemodialysis service, the Di Linh Regional Medical Center sent seven staff members for specialized training at higher-level hospitals. After completing training and technology transfer programs, the team has become capable of independently operating the system and handling complex medical situations safely.
The RO water treatment system — considered the “heart” of the dialysis process — has also undergone strict inspection and testing to ensure patient safety.
Currently, the center operates five dialysis machines, serving around 10 patients per day in two treatment shifts. However, the infrastructure has already been planned for future expansion to 15 machines, gradually becoming a “satellite” facility that helps reduce overcrowding at higher-level hospitals.
With the successful introduction of hemodialysis services in Di Linh, geographical distance is no longer a barrier to accessing healthcare. For kidney failure patients in remote areas, this new facility offers not only medical treatment but also renewed hope in their ongoing fight for life.