VietNamNet Bridge – The US$71.4 million Da Nang Cancer Hospital was inaugurated on Saturday after three years of construction. VND220 billion ($10.5 million) was raised through Government bonds.

With 500 beds, it's the biggest cancer hospital in the central region and the first non-profit hospital in Viet Nam. It will be funded by donations and sponsorship from the city budget, businesses, individuals and NGOs.

"Hospital services will be free of charge for poor people with ‘underprivileged' health insurance in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province," said hospital director Trinh Luong Tran. "In addition, we offer all cancer patients nationwide a cost equal to 77 per cent of the cost in State-owned hospitals."

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the free or low-cost service would help reduce the overload at State hospitals in Ha Noi and HCM City.

Viet Nam has around 150,000 cancer patients annually, of which 75,000 succumbed to the disease. The number is expected to hit 200,000 by 2020.

Deputy chairwoman of the Da Nang Association to Support Poor and Disadvantaged Women and Children Nguyen Thi Van Lan said the hospital had received VND600 billion ($28.6 million) from foreign and domestic donors.

Source: VNS