A H'Mong couple in Dien Bien Province is struggling to keep their four-year-old boy alive after they waited too long to take him to hospital, where he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, because they couldn't afford medical care.

Trong's abdomen swollen from kidney tumor

Thao A Trong was diagnosed last year. He was transferred to Hanoi's National Pediatric Hospital then to the National Cancer Institute. But his parents had to take him home again because they couldn't pay the bills.

Doctors at Viet-Duc Hospital said the cancer is entering the final stages and the tumor needs to be removed. He will need chemotherapy.

Thong and his father at hospital

Nguyen Viet Hoa, head of the Pediatric Department at Hanoi Viet-Duc Hospital, said state health insurance will cover most of the surgery cost. But the chemotherapy is a long-term and expensive treatment.

"If he had gone to the hospital sooner, the situation would have been better," Hoa said.

Trong's father, Thao A Di, said the family's income is from rice fields, and he sold their only buffalo to pay for Thong's treatment because "there's no one to borrow from".

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