2024-11-19

Vietnam Leads Southeast Asia in Organ Transplants: Former Health Minister

In recent years, doctors in Vietnam have performed over 1,000 organ transplants annually, making the country the leader in Southeast Asia for the number of transplants each year, said Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, former Minister of Health and President of the Vietnam Organ Donation Association.

Assoc.-Prof. Tien emphasized this achievement during the launch of the organ donation registration program at the Agricultural Hospital in Hanoi on November 12.

Ms. Tien noted that Vietnam’s healthcare system has over 30 years of experience in performing transplants of kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, pancreases, and corneas. The country has mastered these advanced procedures, placing it on par with others in the region.

A key challenge, however, is that most organ donations in Vietnam come from living donors, which account for 96% of cases. Donations from brain-dead individuals are limited, making up only 4%, and this is insufficient to meet the increasing demand for organ transplants.

According to the Vietnam Organ Donation Association, approximately 100,000 people have registered to donate their organs after death, yet the waiting list for transplants remains in the tens of thousands.

Currently, Vietnam has 26 organ transplant centers nationwide, equipped with advanced facilities, skilled personnel, and cutting-edge technology. (Thong Tin Doi Ngoai, Vietnam Plus, Bao Thanh Hoa)

Post date: 2024-11-19