Vietnam has the highest organ transplant rate in Southeast Asia, with over 1,000 cases annually, but its organ donation rate after death remains among the lowest globally, mainly due to limited public awareness and ineffective communication and advocacy efforts.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan made the aforementioned remarks at a conference organized by the Ministry of Health and the National Coordination Center for Human Organ Transplantation on Wednesday.

Thuan highlighted that over 9,500 organ transplants have been performed in Vietnam since 1992, and more than 102,000 people have registered as organ donors. 

In 2024, the number of people registering to donate organs tripled, and the number of brain-dead organ donors increased by 173 percent compared to 2023.

Despite these improvements, Thuan pointed out that the supply of organs from deceased or brain-dead individuals remains scarce, while demand continues to rise. 

Thousands of patients are still waiting for organ transplants, with many unable to receive treatment due to a lack of donors. 

“Vietnam performs over 1,000 organ transplants annually, the highest in Southeast Asia, but its organ donation rate after death is among the lowest globally,” Thuan said.

He attributed the issue to limited public awareness and ineffective communication and advocacy efforts.

Currently, there is no clear mechanism or policy for consulting on organ and tissue donation from brain-dead and heart-dead individuals.

Only a few hospitals have established consultation teams given a lack of appropriate incentives. 

Despite efforts to improve communication, many people remain hesitant over concerns about spirituality and ethics.

Thuan stressed the importance of developing a system similar to those in developed countries, where trained consulting teams help families make informed decisions about organ donation. 

“Vietnam should study and adopt such a model,” he urged.

Dong Van He, director of the National Coordination Center for Human Organ Transplantation, noted that the Law on Organ Donation is expected to be amended in 2026 to allow people with heart failure to donate organs. 

He also mentioned ongoing efforts to establish regulations on criteria for inclusion in the national transplant waiting list and to organize regular coordination council meetings.

Naoshi Shinozaki, CEO and president of Nikko Academy Inc., shared his experience from Japan, emphasizing the importance of educating people about the value of organ donation while respecting cultural and religious differences. 

He urged Vietnam to continue building a legal framework, educate the public, and establish an organ donation registration system to ensure medical staff can quickly access information about potential donors.

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