Organ transplant milestones in Vietnam

This information was revealed at the launch ceremony of the Southern Region Inter-Hospital Advocacy Subcommittee for Organ and Tissue Donation held on December 23.

Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, former Minister of Health and President of the Vietnam Organ and Tissue Donation Advocacy Association, stated that Vietnam’s annual organ transplant numbers surpass any other country in Southeast Asia.

On average, Vietnam conducts over 1,000 transplants each year, including approximately 100 liver transplants, 90 heart transplants, 13 lung transplants, and 2 small intestine transplants.

According to Associate Professor Nguyen Hoang Bac, Director of the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has mastered complex organ transplant techniques despite starting much later than other countries.

In recent years, Vietnam has made significant advancements in transplant technology, positioning its medical expertise on par with regional standards.

Challenges in organ donation from brain-dead donors

Despite these achievements, Vietnam faces challenges in securing organ donations from brain-dead individuals.

Currently, 96% of organ transplants in Vietnam come from living donors, with only 6% sourced from brain-dead donors.

In contrast, in developed countries, brain-dead donations account for 50-90% of transplants, highlighting a significant disparity.

This low rate is largely attributed to cultural beliefs, with many Vietnamese adhering to the notion that a body must remain intact after death.

Additionally, there is limited public awareness about the societal and medical importance of organ donation.

Advocacy efforts are ongoing to shift perceptions and encourage individuals to view organ donation as a responsibility to the community.

Linh Thuy