In recent days, the case of a boy being taken to Nam Dinh General Hospital for emergency treatment but being refused by doctors, and being required to pay the full amount before “emergency treatment” has caused a wave of public outrage.
On the morning of May 5, 2025, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan paid a visit to this child, and requested that the health sector must provide emergency treatment to the patient “regardless of the reason.” However, what should be done if the patient does not pay the fee is still unanswered?
Public opinion believes that when there is an emergency patient but does not have money to pay the fee, there needs to be a special fund to pay, in order to treat the patient without the pressure of doctors having to pay the full amount before providing emergency treatment.
This is a very legitimate and necessary demand, moreover, when the Vietnamese leaders have just announced the ambitious goal of free medical treatment for all people.
Meanwhile, the echoes of the “magnificent” parade to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country’s unification (April 30) have not yet subsided. Public opinion is “shocked” by the news that the armed forces are urgently preparing for a large-scale parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2).
In the context of people struggling with escalating prices, hospital shortages, and management scandals such as the incident at the Nam Dinh Hospital, people are asking why is the budget still poured into unnecessary ostentatious events, instead of prioritizing healthcare?
Especially when the fight against corruption can bring in significant resources. According to Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Le Minh Tri, in less than half a year, the courts have recovered assets worth more than VND32.4 trillion, of which VND30.3 trillion has been recovered.
This figure shows the great potential of fighting corruption thoroughly with “no forbidden areas.” And if this resource is utilized to invest in healthcare, the goal of free hospitalisation for all people may no longer be “difficult.”
However, in 2025 alone, the Vietnamese government has organized two ostentatious and extremely expensive parades with an estimated cost of thousands of billions of VND, it has caused great public outrage.
According to internal sources, the upcoming parade plan of the Defense Ministry, codenamed A80, is no less large in scale, and may even surpass the recent April 30th celebration.
The public is questioning whether these costly military displays truly honor history, or are they just a “stage” of power to serve a group of interests within the Communist Party of Vietnam?
According to analysts, the April 30 parade is the way for the military faction to assert its position in the power system. The event on September 2 may be displayed with an unprecedented amount of military equipment and forces.
This is a clearer political move, as the 14th National Congress of the ruling communist party is approaching, the military may be looking to consolidate its political influence, in the context of fierce internal competition in order to affirm the return of the military force as the center of power.
Accordingly, activities that demonstrate force such as the parade can be used to assert the power of the military faction. In making major decisions for the country, as well as political stability within the party.
However, public opinion questions whether the state can spend thousands of billions of VND on two parades in one year plus the cost of recovering corrupt assets is up to tens of thousands of billions of VND, why not save to prioritize resources for health care?
This is a number enough to significantly improve health infrastructure or provide essential medicines, and to address the urgent needs of the people.
The parades, although symbolic, cannot replace the real values that people need. That is, an effective health system, a stable economy, and a truly transparent government.
Tra My – Thoibao.de
