Free health check-ups bring care to people in remote areas

Despite many challenges in human resources and facilities, in recent times, local health stations in remote, underserved, and border areas of Dong Nai Province have been organizing numerous free medical check-ups and distributing medicines to residents.

A doctor at Loc Quang Commune Health Station examines a patient. Photo: Hanh Dung

These activities not only help people detect illnesses early but also provide much-needed support and reassurance, enabling residents to work with peace of mind and stabilize their lives.

Local residents are happy

Recently, the Loc Quang Commune Health Station, in coordination with Hanoi - Dong Nai Eye Hospital, organized free health check-ups for more than 200 residents in the locality. Upon hearing that the commune health station was offering free check-ups, Tran Van Hieu, a resident of Hiep Tam Hamlet, was delighted. He arrived at the station very early and waited for his name to be called for a blood pressure check and a rapid blood sugar test. He then underwent a general examination, an ultrasound, and a vision test by doctors. The examination found that Hieu had high blood pressure. He was given medication and advised to take it regularly. In addition, he was also diagnosed with dry cataracts and was instructed to go to the hospital in the center of Dong Nai province for a more specialized examination.

Similarly, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, residing in Hiep Tam A hamlet, Loc Quang commune, 71 years old this year, has only been to the doctor a handful of times. Anh said that due to an unstable economy, each time she had to go to the Loc Ninh Regional Medical Center, which is dozens of kilometers from her home, and she had no idea how to ride a motorbike, so when she had mild symptoms, she often ignored them and did not go for a check-up. Only when her illness became severe did she ask her children to take her to the doctor. Therefore, now that she knows the Loc Quang Commune Health Station will regularly organize free medical examinations and medicine distributions for the people, Anh is very excited.

"The State cares enough to bring doctors to the commune health station for examinations, and we, the people, are very happy. Before, we had to wait a long time at the station to get medicine, but now it is very fast, and the doctors examine us thoroughly. When we are sick, we are happy to have doctors at the commune health station examine us and provide medicine."

TRAN VAN HIEU in Hiep Tam hamlet, Loc Quang commune

"The doctors and medical staff were very gentle, asked after us with great care, and guided us on how to take medicine and eat properly to prevent illness. We hope the commune health station will regularly organize meaningful and practical programs like this so that people in remote and disadvantaged areas can receive free health check-ups," Anh expressed.

Just leaving Loc Quang Commune Health Station, Mai Thi Be, a 49-year-old resident in Bon Xang hamlet, Loc Quang commune, could not hide her emotions. Be shared that her husband passed away early, leaving her to raise 4 children alone. For many years, her eyes have been blurry, she cannot clearly see other people's faces, and she only recognizes people by their voices. At the end of 2025, she went to an ophthalmology hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for an examination, and the doctor diagnosed her with severe cataracts, requiring surgery to see more clearly. However, the cost of surgery for both eyes was up to 20 million VND, and she could not afford it, so she had to go home.

Understanding Be's situation, the doctors at Loc Quang Commune Health Station reminded her to remember the schedule to come to the station for an examination. Be received a free examination from doctors at Hanoi - Dong Nai Eye Hospital and was guided to the hospital for a specialized examination and surgery for both eyes. The good news is that Be will be covered by health insurance, and the cost will be much lower than if she had eye surgery in Ho Chi Minh City.

Visiting homes to examine vulnerable people

With the desire to bring healthcare closer to the people, in recent times, Dak O border commune Health Station has also coordinated with volunteer medical teams inside and outside the province to organize free health check-ups and medicine distributions for local residents.

Tran Van Nhan, in charge of Dak O Commune Health Station, said that at the end of April 2026, the station will continue to coordinate health check-ups

for policy beneficiaries and low-income residents in the commune. According to Dr. Nhan, for people in urban areas or places with better living conditions, accessing medical services is not difficult. However, for people in remote, disadvantaged, and border areas like Dak O, being examined by a doctor brings great joy to the people.

In addition to organizing charitable medical examinations, since July 2025, Dak O Commune Health Station has implemented a model of home visits for residents living in forest-edge areas about 10 kilometers away. Medical staff provide check-ups and health consultations for people with disabilities, the elderly living alone, and other vulnerable groups.

"We are currently managing the health records of 138 people with disabilities (some are bedridden, some use wheelchairs...) in the commune. Through examinations, we discovered that many of them suffer from non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. After the examination, we instruct the patients' families to bring the patient's citizen identification card and health insurance card to the Commune Health Station to get medicine. At the same time, we create electronic health records for residents to manage their health throughout their lifespan," said Dr. Nhan.

Dr. Tran Van Thi, Specialist Level I, in charge of Loc Quang Commune Health Station, said that from early 2026 until now, the station has organized many free medical examinations and medicine distributions, and medical examinations using health insurance at the station for nearly 2,500 people in the area, mainly elderly seniors. In the coming time, the station will continue to expand the target groups to ensure that all people receive free periodic health check-ups at least once a year. These efforts aim to strengthen grassroots healthcare management, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances to higher-level hospitals.

By Hanh Dung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho