On the morning of 04/06/2026, two leading healthcare institutions in Viet Nam—Vietnam National Children’s Hospital and Viet Duc University Hospital—officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen professional collaboration in the field of human tissue and organ transplantation. The ceremony marked an important milestone in efforts to further develop pediatric transplantation services in Viet Nam, with the goal of improving treatment outcomes and expanding life-saving opportunities for children with end-stage organ failure.
Leaders of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital and Viet Duc University Hospital signed the MoU.
Attending on behalf of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital were Prof. Tran Minh Dien, MD, PhD (Hospital Director) and Assoc. Prof. Pham Duy Hien, MD, PhD and Dr. Hoang Minh Phuong, MD, PhD (Hospital Vice Directors). Representing Viet Duc University Hospital were Assoc. Prof. Duong Duc Hung, MD, PhD (Hospital Director), Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Quang Nghia, MD, PhD (Director, Transplantation Center), along with leaders of various departments, offices, and centers from both hospitals.
Organ transplantation is considered one of the most outstanding achievements of modern medicine, offering renewed life to patients facing end-stage organ failure. For children, each successful transplant not only prolongs survival but also provides the opportunity to continue learning, growing, and developing.
Delegates viewed a video introducing Vietnam National Children’s Hospital’s transplantation development journey and cooperation orientations.
Key cooperation areas
Under the MoU, the two hospitals will implement comprehensive collaboration in major priority areas, including:
- Improving access to organs donated from brain-dead donors
- Bilateral professional support and technical assistance
- Coordinating organ procurement, transport, and allocation
- Strengthening training and scientific research
- Enhancing communication and community awareness regarding organ donation and transplantation
Leveraging strengths to expand transplant opportunities for children
In his remarks, Prof. Tran Minh Dien noted that the demand for pediatric organ transplantation continues to rise, while organ donation remains limited—particularly donations from brain-dead donors. In this context, strengthening cooperation between the two leading national hospitals is especially important to improve professional coordination, develop donation sources, and shorten the time to treatment. This will increase opportunities for children with end-stage liver failure, kidney failure, and other conditions to receive timely transplants and improve their quality of life.
Prof. Tran Minh Dien emphasized that Viet Duc University Hospital is a leading national institution in surgery, while Vietnam National Children’s Hospital is the national tertiary pediatric referral hospital, with highly specialized expertise in each field, combining both medical and surgical expertise. The Hospital also provides professional support and clinical direction for pediatric care across 17 northern provinces and cities—forming a strong foundation for meaningful collaboration.
In recent years, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital has continuously advanced high-technology specialties, particularly in pediatric surgery and transplantation. As of May 2026, the Hospital has successfully performed 100 liver transplants and nearly 80 kidney transplants in children. The Hospital has now fully mastered pediatric liver and kidney transplantation techniques and is moving toward more advanced procedures, such as heart transplantation and lung transplantation, in the coming period.
Prof. Tran Minh Dien shared that the Hospital’s proposals for heart and lung transplants have been approved, and that facilities, equipment, and workforce capacity are being finalized. Through this cooperation, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital aims to standardize technical processes and receive transfer of heart and lung transplant techniques—along with other advanced procedures—from Viet Duc University Hospital, thereby expanding treatment options for children with severe diseases.
Two-way cooperation for practical benefits to patients
Assoc. Prof. Duong Duc Hung, Director of Viet Duc University Hospital, stated that the cooperation agreement will elevate the relationship between the two institutions to a new level. This is a two-way collaboration for shared development—enabling both hospitals to leverage strengths, expand experience exchange, and open new opportunities in transplantation and other advanced technical specialties.
He emphasized that the two hospitals have many favorable conditions for cooperation, particularly in transplantation and advanced surgery, and affirmed Viet Duc University Hospital’s readiness to accompany Vietnam National Children’s Hospital in a spirit of collaboration and shared progress, delivering practical benefits for patients.
A commemorative photo of the two hospitals’ representatives after the signing ceremony.
The MoU signing not only opens a new phase of deeper cooperation in transplantation but also demonstrates the two leading national hospitals’ shared commitment to optimizing organ donation resources, improving treatment quality, and developing advanced techniques. Through this linkage, more life-saving opportunities will be created—especially for children with end-stage organ failure—while further spreading the humanitarian values of organ donation and transplantation in the community.
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