Transferring from Vinh Long to Cho Ray hospital, ambulance charged 6 million VND, what did the transport unit say?

Mr. T. was transferred from Vinh Long General Hospital to Cho Ray Hospital by ambulance service for 6 million VND. Thinking that this fee was too high, Mr. T. reported it to Tuoi Tre Online.

Huy Dat's representative office in Phuoc Hau ward ( Vinh Long ) - Photo: XUAN LAN

After reading the article "Bringing a dying mother home from the hospital, only 12km, the ambulance charged 2.4 million VND" ( Tuoi Tre Online, October 16), a reader in Vinh Long saw that his story was similar and reported it.

That is Mr. N.D.T. (69 years old, residing in Long Chau ward, Vinh Long province).

Ambulance travels 130 km and costs 6 million VND

On October 20, speaking with Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. N.D.T said that although the incident happened about a year ago, he always feels upset when remembering his hospital transfer expenses.

"Every time I think about it, I can't sleep. Normally, transferring by ambulance from Vinh Long to hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City costs about 2 million VND, and renting a service car costs only 1.5 million VND.

But for some reason, for the same 130km journey, the ambulance that took me that time charged 6 million VND.

After asking around many times, I found the hotline number of Tuoi Tre newspaper to report the incident," Mr. T. explained.

Mr. T. said that on the evening of September 29, 2024, his illness became severe so he had to be transferred to Cho Ray Hospital.

The payment for the ambulance rental was 6 million VND, the receipt stated Huy Dat General Clinic Company Limited, with a counter located in the lobby of a hospital in Vinh Long.

"I don't understand why the receipt is from an outside service unit," Mr. T. wondered.

Reduced ambulance fare for patient's family

On the same day, talking with Mr. To Vinh Hoa, representative of the emergency counter of Huy Dat General Clinic Company Limited, said that in 2018, Huy Dat bid for an ambulance parking lot, with a monthly fee of 45 million VND.

"Huy Dat operates through bidding contracts, transportation service fees are listed based on price approval by the Department of Finance of Vinh Long province," Mr. Hoa informed.

According to Mr. Hoa, when customers come to rent the service, Huy Dat staff will explain and advise clearly, and only when the customer agrees will the unit perform the service. For cases requiring ventilators, the operating counter will immediately notify the professional manager to coordinate safe transportation. The team of doctors and nurses are all trained and have the appropriate expertise.

"In the case of Mr. T., who was transferred to the hospital at night, the operator explained clearly to his relatives, including the vehicle fee, the fee for renting a ventilator, a cardiovascular monitor, a mucus suction machine, and some accompanying medical equipment and supplies to operate the machine; doctor's fee; nursing fee..., a total of 6,715,000 VND, but we reduced it for the family, only collecting 6 million," Mr. Hoa explained.

KHAC TAM - HOAI THUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuyen-vien-tu-vinh-long-len-cho-ray-xe-cap-cuu-thu-6-trieu-dong-don-vi-van-chuyen-noi-gi-20251020102641021.htm