Brian Jeffrey
There is a critical shortage of timely medical services in HCM City, leading to significant patient distress.
Cho Ray Hospital, the only facility in HCM City with a cyclotron that provides F-18 radioactive drugs for PET/CT scans, is struggling due to outdated equipment. This has caused delays, resulting in patients needing to travel to other cities or even countries for their exams.
Recently, a 60-year-old woman from Tien Giang province, M.T, unexpectedly experienced post-menopausal bleeding and sought medical help in several local hospitals before being referred to HCM City Oncology Hospital due to concerns about cervical cancer.
At the Oncology Hospital, she underwent a series of tests, but it took 5-7 days to receive results for each. Two weeks ago, doctors prescribed a PET/CT scan to determine the stage of her cancer, but she was informed it would take another 10 days for her appointment, prompting her to return to Tien Giang to wait.
Her daughter expressed frustration, recalling how they initially tried to save money by traveling by motorbike, but as her mother’s condition deteriorated, they had to resort to expensive taxi rides, costing them VND1 million each time.
While waiting for diagnoses, T was unable to receive medications beyond pain relief, which she knew could have adverse effects on her health.
“I don’t understand why the process is so slow,” her daughter lamented, mentioning her sister’s employment constraints and her own situation as a new mother having to leave her baby behind to care for T.
On the day of T’s PET/CT scan, her daughter witnessed another patient collapse from pain.
Many patients at HCM City Oncology Hospital face a waiting period of 10-14 days for PET/CT scans.
K.P, a 59-year-old from An Giang, was diagnosed with cervical cancer after experiencing severe abdominal pain. She frequently traveled to HCM City for treatment over the month, losing weight and relying on a neighbor for assistance due to her deteriorating health.
Both M.T and K.P represent many patients from smaller provinces compelled to seek treatment in the city. In addition to the VND10 million they must pay upfront for PET/CT imaging, they incur multiple expenses for exams, travel, and accommodations.
Improved scheduling of PET/CT scans in HCM City could help these patients save money.
Another patient’s mother, whose 6-year-old child was at risk of lymphoma, felt fortunate compared to others. Despite needing a PET/CT scan, they faced delays due to a shortage of F-18 FDG. In search of prompt care, she contacted a hospital in Hanoi to arrange a scan for VND25 million, but fortunately, was notified just before leaving that the medication was now available in HCM City.
“Patients who were diagnosed sooner had no choice but to travel to Hanoi for scans because they could not afford to wait any longer,” she shared.
