Fewdays ago, a patient from Shuangta Township, Minquan County, Shangqiu City, Henan Province was immediately sent by an ambulance to the Emergency Center of the Shangqiu First People's Hospital. Liu Wei, chief of Cardiovascular Surgeryat the hospital, and Professor Li Wenbinwho provides technical support at the hospital, soon found that the patient was in a critical condition and quite likely to have suddencardiac arrest. Surgery must be performed immediately.

It was estimated that thiscomplicatedand high-risksurgerywhich wouldtake a long time and requiremassiveblood transfusion cost150,000 yuan. Except the part that could be covered by medicalinsurance, the family still couldn't afford the other 50,000 yuan. They hesitated since it was quite a large sum for them.

Exterior of the Shangqiu First People's Hospital [Photo by Wan Qingli]

After learning that, Han Chuan'en, secretary of the CPC Committee of Shangqiu First People's Hospital and president of the hospital, persuadedthe family to agree to the surgery as soon as possible. Being told that thefamilyonly had a bit more than 30,000 yuan available,Hanpromised: "As long as you agree to do the surgery, I will find a wayto helpyouwiththe remaining 10,000 yuan". Moreover, he assured them that the hospital would cover the extracostif 50,000 yuan was not enough.

Han Chuan'en said: "Since wearethe people's hospital, we must serve the peopleand make it affordable for patients toseea doctor". Afterwards, he applied for arelief fundof 15,000 yuan from Soong Ching LingFoundationfor the family.

The surgery was a great successwith the great supportfromthe hospital. Now the patient is ingoodrecovery. [Written by Diao Zhiyuan]