Over 16,000 Vietnamese Patients Waiting For Organ Transplants

Vietnam has more than 16,000 people currently waiting for organ transplant operations, according to data released by health experts at a seminar on “Calling the public for humanitarian organ transplants” held at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on May 29. Of the total, 8,000 patients have chronic kidney failure in the last stage, 6,000 are blind due to corneal problems, 1,500 people suffer from severe liver failure, and hundreds of people need heart or lungs transplants. The organ transplant coordination unit at Cho Ray Hospital estimated that 600 patients have volunteered to donate their organs after death since a campaign in October last year calling for voluntary organ donors. The organ supply is significantly below the demand, considering that Vietnam has over 91.3 million people. The country has about 400,000 people dying from natural causes each year, but very few people agree to donate their healthy organs. The high costs of an organ transplant procedure also hold some poor patients back from receiving the much needed life-saving operation. On average, one liver transplant costs a total of VND200 million ($9,166). The recipient must pay VND150 million, and of that cost, health insurance covers VND130 million. Vietnam has a GPD per capita of $1,910 in 2013. The first kidney transplant was successfully carried out in Vietnam in 1992 and 12 years later, local doctors conducted the first liver graft surgery. Vietnam passed a law relating to organ donation in 2006, under which Vietnamese citizens aged 18 and above have the right to donate their tissue or organs. The law offers some incentives for donors, including free healthcare services, health insurance and priority for transplants if needed. In July 2013, Vietnam opened its first national center at Viet Duc General Hospital in Hanoi dedicated to coordinating human organ transplants. (Nguoi Lao Dong – Laborer June 2 p8H, tuoirtre.vn June 1)