Nearly all foreigners have recovered from novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Vietnam, with treatment costs ranging from VND20 million (US$860) to nearly VND700 million ($30,000), according to the Ministry of Health.

As of Monday, 49 out of 50 foreigners catching COVID-19 in the country have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

Among them, a British woman, Vietnam’s patient No. 30, had the most expensive treatment, approximately VND698 million ($29,900), at Hue Central Hospital, located in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

At the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, the cost of treatment for a foreign COVID-19 patient was about VND20-45 million ($860-1,930).

In some specific cases, the medical bill was much higher.

Patient No. 26, a British citizen, had to pay VND538 million ($23,120) for his treatment, which lasted from March 8 to April 14.

Another foreigner, who stayed at the institution from March 11 to April 3, paid more than VND598 million ($25,700).

The medical bill of most foreign patients was covered by their travel insurance, according to the health ministry.

The remaining active foreign patient is a 43-year-old British pilot, who is being treated at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

His treatment cost from mid-March to May 22 at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the southern metropolis was approximately VND3 billion ($128,860).

The infirmary is now negotiating with the company which provides the Briton’s health insurance on his medical bill.

The result of their negotiations is expected to be announced in two weeks.

In accordance with local regulations, Vietnamese COVID-19 are treated free of charge as their medical bill would be paid by health insurance firms, or by the state budget if the patient does not have health insurance.

Foreigners do not have to pay for their stay at local quarantine centers, but are required to pay for their COVID-19 treatment in the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam’s COVID-19 tally is at 332, with 316 having beaten the disease, according to Ministry of Health statistics. No virus-related death has been recorded.

No locally-transmitted infections have been documented in the community for 54 days.

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