The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has required hospitals nationwide to mull over providing free-of-charge treatment for all cholera patients, said Deputy Minister Trinh Quan Huan. The move follows the information that many cholera patients had to pay hospital fees that should have been covered by the health insurance, the Tuoi Tre newspaper reported July 15, citing Huan. However, Director of the Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases Nguyen Van Kinh said that the patients can only receive free treatment in case of the epidemic announcement. The cholera is still under control of the provincial and municipal health authorities, thus, the ministry has not yet announced the epidemic, Huan added. Cholera has affected over 321 people in 12 provinces and cities nationwide since early this year, comprising Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre, An Giang, Tien Giang, Can Tho, Bac Lieu, Tay Ninh, Nam Dinh, Bac Ninh, Thanh Hoa and Hai Duong.
