Vietnam’s FV Hospital has provided $85 million in medical subsidies over the past 21 years, significantly alleviating financial burdens for uninsured patients. Renowned for upholding international medical standards, the private hospital has strengthened its commitment to affordability by offering a 20% subsidy for individuals without private health insurance.
This initiative, though relatively unknown, has benefited millions of Vietnamese patients who might otherwise struggle to access high-quality healthcare.
Financial Relief for Patients
For patients like Mrs. L., a farmer from An Giang province, FV’s financial assistance was life-changing. She had suffered from a congenital heart condition for years, enduring severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting spells. Despite seeking treatment at several medical facilities, no effective cure was found. Her family, earning a modest income from farming and selling vegetables, faced growing financial strain from years of medical expenses.
A severe episode forced her family to take her to Ho Chi Minh City for emergency care, where they were referred to Dr. Ho Minh Tuan, Head of Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology at FV Hospital. At FV, she was diagnosed with congenital coarctation of the aorta, a condition requiring a complex stent placement procedure. The advanced treatment, which required high precision, was successful. Within days, her symptoms vanished, and she was discharged in stable health.
Initially, her family feared that treatment at an international hospital would be beyond their means. They gathered their savings and borrowed from relatives, expecting an overwhelming bill. However, they were relieved to learn that FV’s 20% subsidy for uninsured patients, combined with partial coverage from Vietnam’s national health insurance, significantly lowered their financial burden. “I’m very happy to receive the subsidy from FV Hospital,” she said. “The doctors and staff are incredibly skilled and dedicated. Receiving treatment here was truly worth it.”
Millions of patients like Mrs. L. have benefited from FV’s financial support programme, which has been in place since the hospital’s founding. Despite inflation and increasing operational costs, FV remains committed to ensuring high-quality medical care remains accessible to a broad spectrum of patients.
A Pricing Model Designed for Affordability and Transparency
FV Hospital’s approach to healthcare pricing sets it apart from many private hospitals in the region. Instead of a single pricing system, FV operates on a three-tier model that differentiates between international insurance holders, private insurance patients, and those without private health insurance.
Dr. Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital, explained that these pricing categories were designed to maintain fairness while ensuring affordability for local patients. “Our charges are about 50% lower than international hospitals in Thailand and Malaysia and only 30% of what hospitals in Singapore charge,” he said. “This is made possible due to Vietnam’s lower operational costs and our commitment to maintaining reasonable profit margins.”
Under this model, international insurance holders are billed according to their insurers’ reimbursement policies, while privately insured patients benefit from package-based pricing. However, the biggest advantage is reserved for uninsured patients, who automatically qualify for FV’s 20% subsidy, making high-quality treatment more accessible.
This pricing structure has helped FV stand out in Southeast Asia, where private healthcare is often prohibitively expensive. Unlike many hospitals in the region that focus on maximizing profits, FV prioritizes accessibility. “From the beginning, we wanted to create an international-standard hospital where Vietnamese patients wouldn’t need to travel abroad for quality treatment,” Dr. Guillon said.
Insurance Coverage and Instalment Payment Options
Looking ahead, FV Hospital is preparing to introduce new policies to further ease financial pressure on patients. Starting January 2025, FV will launch a medical fee instalment programme, allowing patients to spread treatment costs over several months. This is expected to help families struggling with major medical expenses, particularly those dealing with long-term illnesses such as cancer.
In another major policy shift, FV is expanding its state health insurance coverage. Currently, national health insurance covers only certain inpatient treatments, but from July 1, 2025, it will extend to include outpatient, emergency, and day ward treatments. By January 1, 2026, the hospital will officially provide full inpatient and outpatient coverage under Vietnam’s state health insurance system, making it easier for patients to access care without financial hardship.
Despite rising costs for medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and staff salaries, FV has chosen not to pass these expenses onto patients. “Since 2022, the U.S. dollar has surged, and inflation has remained high, yet we have absorbed the added costs instead of increasing hospital fees,” Dr. Guillon said. The last fee adjustment was in November 2022, and since then, FV has maintained stable pricing to protect patients from additional financial burdens.
Beyond financial support, FV is investing in cutting-edge medical technology. Recently, the hospital introduced an AI-powered myopia risk detection system, designed to identify and predict vision deterioration in children up to age 18. The system enables doctors to implement preventative treatment strategies, reducing the risk of severe eye problems in adulthood. “Many children don’t realize they have vision issues,” said Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai, Head of Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery. “Early detection allows us to intervene before the condition worsens.”
FV Hospital’s evolving financial policies, technological advancements, and commitment to affordability are reshaping Vietnam’s private healthcare landscape. As more patients benefit from subsidized treatments, instalment payment options, and expanded insurance coverage, FV is proving that international-standard healthcare can be both accessible and sustainable.
