HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Qualityhealth care services at the public Binh Dan Hospital in HCM City’s District 3is now being offered to people in the LGBT community.

Dr Nguyen Ho Vinh Phuoc of the hospital said: “They can receive services in aprivate space with respect from the hospital’s health staff.”

Nguyen Tan Thu, a doctor specialising in serving LGBT people, said the serviceat a public hospital was especially important because patients had oftencomplained about discriminatory attitudes at public hospital facilities.

Thu said that many of them had avoided health care or sought illegal services.Some of them were seeking medical or surgical treatments to transitionphysically to their self-affirmed gender.

Many of the patients are at high risk of contracting HIV and sexuallytransmitted diseases and need services in these areas, as well as psychologicalhealth care, according to the doctor.

The number of transgender people who are clinically depressed or want to commitsuicide, or abuse alcohol or stimulants, is very high in Vietnam.

“Like everyone, they want to visit hospitals for health exams and treatment.However, because of widespread discrimination, there is a lack of understandingamong healthcare staff,” Thu said.

A transgender woman called To Mi from HCM City said many LGBT people did notknow where to seek information about transition surgery.

“I am asked where I had surgery, but I don’t dare introduce them” because theplace may not be suitable, she said.

A transgender man from HCM City said that he had abilateral mastectomy in Thailand, which cost much more than in Vietnam.However, illegal surgery in certain places in Vietnam is not consideredsafe.    

“I have to fly to Thailand every six monthsafter my surgery. It’s costly,” he said.

Mi said that she and other transgender people want better access to health careservices after their transition.   

Dr Phuoc said that, to meet the high demand of LGBT individuals, the hospitalprovides counselling about sexual and reproductive health for them and theirrelatives.     

The hospital also provides screening, prevention and treatment for HIV andsexually transmitted diseases, as well as general counselling.

They are also provide counselling abouthormone therapy before, during and after transition, and receive treatmentfor complications after transgender surgery, he said.  

Binh Dan Hospital is one of several health facilities inthe city providing health care services for LGBT people.

According to the NGO Centre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives, Vietnamis estimated to have nearly 300.000 to 500.000 transgender people, although noofficial figures exist.

The Ministry of Health is completing information for the National Assembly fora draft law that would protect the legal status and rights of transgenderpeople, including those who have had sex reassignment surgery and those whohave not had the surgery.

The law would create more favourable conditions for LGBT patients at health carefacilities in the country.-VNS/VNA