The year 2024 concluded with remarkable achievements in Vietnamese medicine, particularly in the field of advanced treatments like organ transplantation.

Leading Southeast Asia in transplantation techniques

At the 2025 National Health Conference, the Ministry of Health highlighted organ transplantation as one of the year’s most outstanding achievements.

Vietnamese doctors have mastered cutting-edge techniques in diagnosis and treatment, placing the nation on par with advanced medical systems worldwide.

"Vietnam’s expertise in organ transplantation is now on the same level as countries with advanced and developed healthcare systems," stated Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan.

Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in organ transplantation.

Since the first kidney transplant in 1992, over 9,300 organ transplants have been performed nationwide, including:

More than 8,500 kidney transplants
Over 660 liver transplants
Nearly 100 heart transplants
12 lung transplants
1 heart-liver transplant

The simultaneous heart-liver transplant was particularly celebrated as the most significant medical achievement of 2024.

A groundbreaking simultaneous heart-liver transplant

This pioneering procedure, conducted by Viet Duc University Hospital on October 1, 2024, involved a 41-year-old patient, D.V.H., suffering from end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy, liver failure, and other complications.

The patient’s survival depended on the use of artificial heart-lung and liver filtration machines.

A simultaneous heart-liver transplant was deemed the only viable solution, as a heart transplant alone would not suffice due to liver failure.

The organs were donated by a patient with severe brain trauma in Nghe An.

After eight hours of surgery, the transplanted heart began beating. Within 36 hours, both the heart and liver showed signs of recovery.

By October 5, the patient had his ventilator removed, began breathing independently, and his organ functions gradually returned to normal.

This complex multi-organ transplant was recognized by the Ministry of Health as one of the top 10 medical milestones of 2024.

Record-breaking organ donations and transplants

Vietnam currently has 28 hospitals licensed to perform organ transplants and 85 facilities trained in organ donation advocacy and brain death evaluation.

In 2024, there was a significant increase in the number of brain-dead donors.

In 2023, there were only 14 cases of brain-dead organ donation.

In the first nine months of 2024, this number increased to 25, enabling life-saving transplants for 87 recipients.

By year-end, the total reached 39 - a record high.

The Thong Nhat Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City performed its first brain-dead organ donation in 2024, involving an 18-year-old donor from An Giang.

His organs saved the lives of seven patients across Vietnam, including a three-year-old child.

A cultural shift towards organ donation

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, President of the Vietnam Association for Organ Donation Advocacy, noted that the proportion of organ transplants from brain-dead donors has risen to 12%.

Globally, brain-dead donations account for an average of 60% of all transplants, and in some countries, this figure exceeds 90%.

While Vietnam remains among the countries with the lowest rates of brain-dead organ donation, the growing numbers reflect a positive shift in public awareness.

This progress results from relentless efforts by healthcare workers, local authorities, and advocacy groups to promote the life-saving potential of organ donation.

As Minister Dao Hong Lan stated, “When one flame goes out, many lives are reignited.”

Spreading hope through a noble movement

In addition to high-profile transplants, the nationwide campaign "Giving is forever" has inspired thousands to register as organ donors.

This movement gained momentum following a direct appeal and personal registration by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, transforming organ donation into a widely embraced humanitarian gesture.

The success of this campaign and Vietnam’s advancements in transplantation not only restore lives but also position the country as a beacon of progress in global medical achievements.

Vo Thu