Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra on May 20 personally pledged to register for tissue and organ donation, emphasizing that every registration form submitted today could become a source of hope and life for many others tomorrow.

Speaking at the “Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Day - Giving Lives On Forever” program organized by the Ministry of Health, the Deputy Prime Minister delivered an emotional speech about the humanitarian significance of organ and tissue donation, describing it as “a miraculous extension of life.”

She recalled a compassionate story that took place in early April this year involving a 19-year-old British woman who suffered an accident while traveling in Ha Giang Province and was later declared brain dead by doctors.

At the moment of deepest grief, her family made the noble decision to donate her organs and tissues to save others.

That act of generosity gave four Vietnamese patients a renewed chance at life and restored light to their lives.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, that story, along with hundreds of silent organ and tissue donations over the years, has created “beautiful stories of compassion, humanity and deep national solidarity.”

They are ordinary people, she said, who in moments between life and death chose to give away parts of themselves to bring life back to others.

“Those noble acts remind us that no matter how much loss and hardship life may bring, human compassion remains the most sacred and beautiful thing, and the most powerful force capable of extending life,” she said emotionally.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that organ and tissue donation is not merely a medical act, but also a profound humanitarian act that reflects a meaningful philosophy of life: “Giving lives on forever.”

She also expressed deep gratitude to organ donors and their families who overcame personal grief to make decisions rooted in humanity, progress and compassion.

“In their most painful moments, they still thought about the lives of others,” she shared.

The Deputy Prime Minister also frankly acknowledged that the demand for organ transplants in Vietnam remains enormous and continues to grow.

Thousands of patients are still waiting every day for the opportunity to receive a transplant.

Some children hope for a healthy heart so they can return to school and grow up normally.

Some fathers and mothers simply wish for more time with their families.

Yet many patients, she noted, never live long enough to receive the organ they need.

“Every organ donation registration form submitted today may become a hope for life for many people tomorrow,” she emphasized.

She called on the public to help spread the organ donation movement through compassion, sharing and solidarity.

The Deputy Prime Minister said she herself would register for organ and tissue donation during this meaningful occasion as a way to spread the message that “Giving lives on forever.”

Nearly 177,500 people register for organ donation after death

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said Vietnam’s healthcare sector has spent more than 30 years striving to master advanced organ transplant techniques.

From the country’s first kidney transplant in 1992, Vietnam has now successfully carried out complex procedures including organ transplants from brain-dead donors, multi-organ transplants, simultaneous heart-liver transplants and domino transplants.

Vietnam’s transplant capabilities are now considered close to those of many advanced countries in the region.

From only a handful of hospitals initially, Vietnam now has 34 licensed hospitals authorized to perform organ transplants.

To date, around 11,000 organ transplants have been carried out nationwide.

However, one of the major bottlenecks in Vietnam’s organ donation efforts is the limited number of transplants sourced from brain-dead donors.

As of May 19, nearly 177,500 people in Vietnam had registered to donate organs and tissues after death.

Vietnam has recorded a total of 286 brain-dead organ donors to date.

Although the number of brain-dead donors has increased significantly - with 41 cases recorded in 2024, 66 in 2025 and 25 cases reported so far in 2026 - the figure remains modest compared to the growing demand for organ transplants.

To honor organ donors and their families, the Ministry of Health has designated May 20 each year as “Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Day.”

The occasion is not only meant to recognize noble humanitarian acts but also to inspire compassion and sharing throughout society while spreading the message that “Giving lives on forever.”

Vo Thu