Dong Nai is booming with the trend of 'paying hospital fees for strangers': When 'strangers' suddenly become relatives

(DN) - Since the beginning of August, the hot trend of "Paying hospital fees for strangers" has appeared and spread widely. In fact, many people have regularly paid hospital fees for people who are not relatives or kin for many years. However, from the above hot trend, many hospitals in Dong Nai province have recorded more support from benefactors, from direct to "hidden", than before.

Paying hospital fees for people who are not "blood relatives"

In early August 2025, Long Khanh Regional General Hospital received a special case, baby T.D., 5 months old, (in Xuan Loc commune, Dong Nai province) was admitted to the hospital due to a back abscess that was difficult to heal. The baby's mother was mentally ill and often left home, leaving the baby to be raised by her grandmother and aunt. The grandmother was old, no longer worked, and had no income, while baby T.D.'s aunt had to work for hire, so the family's situation was very difficult.

“We contacted the local authorities and confirmed that the grandmother's family raising baby D. was in a very difficult situation. Therefore, we posted information about the baby's situation on social media to ask for support from benefactors. Thanks to that, in addition to the hospital fees, when discharged from the hospital, the benefactors also sent many cans of powdered milk, diapers and 2.5 million VND to baby D. to continue to improve his health,” said Mr. Tran Huu Phat, Deputy Head of the Quality Management - Social Work Department, Long Khanh Regional General Hospital.

Representatives of the Social Work Department, Long Khanh Regional General Hospital, on behalf of the donors, presented support to the patients. Photo: Huu Phat

This is not an uncommon case in hospitals in Dong Nai province. Typically, on August 4, Long Khanh Regional General Hospital received and treated patient Vu Thi Thanh, born in 1969, staying in Long Khanh ward, Dong Nai province.

Ms. Thanh is from Nam Dinh province (formerly, now Ninh Binh province). She currently lives alone, has no husband, children, or relatives, and has to sell lottery tickets to make a living every day. On August 4, Ms. Thanh suddenly had chest pain and was taken to the Long Khanh Regional General Hospital by people living in the same boarding house. There, doctors diagnosed her with pleural effusion and had to perform emergency surgery to insert a drainage tube.

Being seriously ill and homeless, the treatment cost of 14 million VND was beyond her means. Therefore, the hospital's Social Work Department called for support from benefactors.

“I was quite surprised and touched when people who I did not know came to visit me and gave me money and gifts. In addition, the hospital also informed me that many people transferred money to support me to pay the hospital fees even though they did not know who I was and I did not know them. This is what warmed my heart the most during the years I was away from home,” Ms. Thanh confided.

Ms. Quynh Nga (right) gives hospital support to Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuoc, 82 years old, who has respiratory failure and severe pneumonia. Photo: BVCC

Recently, Ms. Quynh Nga, a resident of Tam Hiep Ward, Dong Nai Province, represented the Quynh Nga Volunteer Group to visit the Dong Nai General Hospital to directly visit patient Nguyen Huu Phuoc, 82 years old, who suffered from respiratory failure and severe pneumonia, and had to be treated in intensive care for many days. Although Ms. Nga and Mr. Phuoc are not relatives or know each other, she and the members of the Volunteer Group joined hands to help him overcome his serious illness.

The first time on July 16, Ms. Nga paid an advance of 5 million VND for Mr. Phuoc's hospital fee. On July 21, Ms. Nga returned to visit him in person and paid another 16 million VND for Mr. Phuoc to continue his treatment.

“When I saw the elderly patient, surrounded by IV tubes, tangled wires, in difficult circumstances, with no money for treatment, I felt very sorry. After the first visit, I discussed it with the members of the group and continued to contribute a little bit each to support him,” Ms. Nga shared.

Not just a "trend" - a temporary trend

This is not the first time that Ms. Nga and the group members have donated to support the poor, especially the elderly and seriously ill patients. The Quynh Nga volunteer group often goes to hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai to help patients, some more or less depending on the specific circumstances.

All of these patients have no blood relationship with any member of the group, but everyone is willing to share and feel happy when they can help others... About 100 members of the group have maintained this activity for more than 10 years.

Students of class 11A3, Long Khanh High School, Dong Nai province, and their homeroom teachers went to Long Khanh Regional General Hospital to give gifts to patients. Photo: Huu Phat

This beautiful action is not a temporary trend. Recently, many young people have gone directly to hospitals to visit and share with patients.

Recently, students of class 11A3, Long Khanh High School, Dong Nai province, along with their homeroom teachers, went to Long Khanh Regional General Hospital to give gifts including cakes and milk to pediatric and elderly patients being treated there. This is the second year the school has maintained this activity to nurture the love of students and spread a beautiful image to everyone.

According to Mr. Tran Huu Phat, the hospital has received many donors from all over the country, but mainly from Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province. Many of them have "quietly" helped, paid in advance hospital fees for patients and sent information back to the Social Work Department for statistics...

For about 10 years now, this unit has been connecting and calling for support from generous donors for poor patients. “We have loyal donors who support us every month with a fixed amount from 500,000 VND to 1 million VND... to pay hospital fees or contribute to the hospital's charity porridge fund to give free to patients...

Mr. Le Dinh Hanh, Deputy Head of the Social Work Department, Dong Nai General Hospital, expressed: "Paying hospital fees for strangers" is not only a temporary "hot trend", but this action also spreads sustainably and long-term, demonstrating the kindness and compassion of many benefactors in life.

At the hospital, for each situation, the Social Work Department will observe, verify and connect with donors to visit and directly support the patient, the right person - the right situation. All support is public, transparent, with pictures and a list of patients signing.

In addition, "Paying hospital fees for strangers" is also directly responded by medical staff, they are regular and persistent donors. A typical example is Mr. Nguyen Cong Bang, who used to be an ambulance driver at Long Khanh Regional General Hospital. Although he is retired, every week he still regularly donates 50kg of rice to the hospital's "Charity Porridge Pot" model to cook and distribute to patients at the hospital.

Mr. Le Dinh Hanh, Deputy Head of the Social Work Department, Dong Nai General Hospital added: Due to the effect of the hot trend "Paying hospital fees for strangers", from the beginning of August until now, the number of donors coming to support poor patients has increased by 15-20% compared to previous months, including many young people.

Accordingly, when receiving information about patients needing help from departments, the Social Work Department will verify and spread the information on social networks, thereby connecting with donors to directly support patients. Many donors have directly visited and paid hospital fees for patients. Not only that, many people also send money and gifts every week and every month to patients being treated in oncology and hemodialysis departments, where patients have to "stick" with them for a long time during their treatment journey.

“On August 15, we received 9 gifts from donors, equivalent to 9 million VND in cash to support patients being treated in the intensive care units. Along with that, a donor (name withheld) in Bien Hoa ward discussed with us and "concluded" to regularly support 5 million VND each month for patients" - Mr. Hanh said.

Bich Nhan

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202508/dong-nai-ro-trao-luu-dong-vien-phi-cho-nguoi-la-khi-nguoi-dung-bong-hoa-nguoi-than-538183e/