Catholic nuns in central Vietnam are helping to cover the medical expenses of poor patients following recent hikes in hospital bills.

Four months ago, a heart operation cost 20-25 million dong, (US$1,000-1,300) but now it is double that, said Nguyen Trong Ty, who is recovering from heart surgery at a state-run hospital in Hue city.

He said the Daughters of Our Lady of the Visitation nuns visited him, gave him 10 million dong and some milk.

“I am so grateful to the nuns for helping me cover my expenses, especially as I am not Catholic,” said the 39-year-old Buddhist from Ha Tinh province and a father of two.

Ty said his wife had to borrow 35 million dong from a bank to pay for his treatment.

He is among 200 poor patients who have received financial help from the nuns.

“We want to help ease the pain and worries of poor patients and their relatives,” said Sister Anne Le Thi Hue.

Her congregation has given out about 1 billion dong this year mainly to those suffering from heart disease or cancer, she said.

Children with heart disease would have all their medical expenses covered, the nun said, adding that her congregation receives money from foreign and domestic benefactors for this charitable work.

The family of four-year-old Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai, who suffers from Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect, received 50 million dong to cover her operation costs on Aug. 3.

“Without that money, my daughter would have died because we couldn’t afford treatment,” said Hoai’s mother.

The nuns also provide free accommodation and food as well as cover the travel expenses of patients’ relatives, said Sister Hue.

Her congregation is currently building a 30-bed clinic which will provide free treatment for patients regardless of background.

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VT10711.1613