500 children receive free screening for congenital heart disease

At Dong Xuan District Medical Center, 400 children were screened for congenital heart disease by doctors from Tam Duc Heart Hospital for free. At Phu Yen Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, about 100 children were screened for free. This is part of the free heart surgery program for disadvantaged children in 2025.

Doctors at Tam Duc Heart Hospital discuss a case of ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect. Photo: YEN LAN

According to Ms. Pham Thi Minh Hien, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, this program is a connection between the Phu Yen Children's Support Fund with a number of non-governmental organizations and Tam Duc Heart Hospital under the annual signed Children's Health Project program, aiming to help children with congenital heart disease in difficult circumstances, near-poor and poor, to be treated by surgery, and have a normal life like their friends. Every year, the program organizes free screening for children in localities in the province, aiming to detect early cases of congenital heart disease with indications for surgery; provide consultation and guidance on preparing documents to send to sponsoring units to support surgery costs in order to share treatment costs with families of children in difficult circumstances. It is known that the cost of a surgery to treat congenital heart disease ranges from 80 million VND to more than 200 million VND; there are complicated cases, the cost is up to more than 500 million VND.

The program is supported by Children Action and VinaCapital Foundation, two main sponsors, and several other organizations. Children Action supports 70% of the surgical costs (after deducting health insurance); VinaCapital Foundation supports 30% of the surgical costs. In cases where the surgical costs are too high, the sponsors will consider and decide on the level of support based on the circumstances and records of each case.

The free heart surgery program for disadvantaged children, which has been implemented in Phu Yen province for more than 10 years, has brought about very practical results, helping many children in disadvantaged, poor and near-poor families to receive free heart surgery. On average, each year, the program supports about 15-20 heart surgeries for children.

On this occasion, the team of doctors from Tam Duc Heart Hospital also examined and consulted people about some common diseases.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/xa-hoi/202504/500-tre-em-duoc-kham-sang-loc-mien-phi-benh-tim-bam-sinh-2423431/