Lam Dong Brings Hemodialysis Services Closer to Communities
To improve the quality of public healthcare, the Lam Dong Department of Health is implementing a project to procure and install hemodialysis systems at grassroots medical facilities, enabling patients with chronic kidney disease to receive safe, sustainable treatment closer to home.
Reducing Pressure on Provincial Hospitals
Provincial hospitals in Lam Dong are currently facing significant pressure in providing hemodialysis services. Lam Dong General Hospital and Lam Dong II Hospital are treating 358 and 200 dialysis patients, respectively, resulting in overcrowded treatment units.
Meanwhile, many patients with chronic kidney disease in localities such as Don Duong, Da Huoai, Krong No and Tanh Linh must travel between 50 and 150 kilometers three times a week for routine dialysis.
Beyond the long journeys, patients also bear substantial transportation, accommodation and caregiving expenses. For poor households, particularly ethnic minority families living in remote and mountainous areas, every hospital visit is not only a life-sustaining journey but also a prolonged financial burden.
The effectiveness of bringing advanced medical services closer to communities has already been demonstrated in coastal and island areas.
According to Duong Tin Phuc, Director of the Phu Quy Special Zone Military-Civilian Medical Center, the facility currently operates two hemodialysis machines, providing regular treatment for patients on the island. As a result, patients no longer need to travel to the mainland and rent accommodation for dialysis sessions as they did previously.
Since 2023, the local dialysis system has enabled many patients to return home for treatment, celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday and reunite with their families. To meet growing demand, the center has also added Saturday dialysis sessions.
The Department of Health has instructed all affiliated healthcare facilities to accelerate the deployment of this specialized service. Facilities preparing to introduce hemodialysis are required to promptly send medical personnel for advanced training at higher-level hospitals, review infrastructure conditions and submit detailed implementation plans.
Facilities already providing dialysis services are instructed to continue strengthening human resources, medical equipment and technical procedures in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines, minimizing the need for patients to be referred to higher-level hospitals.
Maximizing Public Investment and Patient Benefits
To ensure the effective use of medium-term public investment funding for the 2026–2030 period, the Department of Health has closely reviewed existing medical equipment based on the actual needs of each locality.
The assessment found that, apart from the Ham Thuan Bac Regional Medical Center—which is preparing to install five dialysis machines through socialized funding—none of the remaining grassroots healthcare facilities have received dialysis equipment from other investment projects.
The allocation of specialized equipment will be carried out under decisions issued by the Department of Health to ensure transparency, compliance with allocation standards and optimal utilization of existing healthcare infrastructure. At the same time, all beneficiary facilities must commit to implementing comprehensive hemodialysis service development plans.
This project carries profound humanitarian significance, with serving the community and improving patients' quality of life serving as its highest measure of success.
Dang Thuc Anh Vu, Deputy Director of the Lam Dong Department of Health
With an estimated investment of more than VND 155 billion, the project will provide 219 conventional hemodialysis machines and 34 high-quality hemodiafiltration (HDF) machines.
Once operational, the project is expected to save more than VND 33 billion annually in indirect social costs, primarily by reducing transportation and accommodation expenses for 887 patients currently receiving treatment outside the province and 347 patients who travel long distances for dialysis within the province.
Receiving treatment closer to home will also significantly reduce travel time for patients and their families, enabling them to maintain employment and generating estimated opportunity-cost savings of more than VND 8 billion each year.