From the operating room to the moment of glory to receive the First Prize for Vietnamese Talent 2025, they have proven the mettle, intelligence and compassion of Vietnamese doctors.
Dr. Duong Duc Hung - Director of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital - shared his journey as a master of organ transplant techniques, to work with the collective to reach the worthy reward for the intelligence and compassion of the medical industry.
From disregard to international recognition
Dr. Duong Duc Hung, what are the core innovation factors that make the project "Deployment of multi-organ transplantation from brain-dead donors" highly appreciated by the scientific council in terms of techniques, processes, results, and international standards?
- Dr. Duong Duc Hung: Organ transplantation is the most complex medical technique, requiring close coordination between many specialties such as: Resuscitation, anesthesia, surgery, pharmacology and post-transplant care. Technically, the Viet Duc Friendship Hospital team has mastered and synchronized the entire multi-organ transplant process - from resuscitation of the donor, organ retrieval - storage - transportation, to transplantation and post-transplant care. Many complex techniques have been improved and optimized according to Vietnamese conditions but still meet international standards.
Regarding the process, the hospital builds a model of management, coordination of donation - transplantation of organs in a closed system, ensuring safety, efficiency and transparency. This is the foundation for expanding the technique to many hospitals nationwide.
The results showed that the success rate of multiple organ transplants, recovery time and quality of life of patients were all equivalent to that of the leading organ transplant centers in the region.
Finally, in terms of humanistic value, the work is not only a medical achievement but also affirms the intellectual capacity, bravery and compassion of Vietnamese doctors in reviving lives from loss.
After more than three decades, Vietnam has risen to become a bright spot on the world organ transplant map. From a backward country, we have mastered many advanced techniques, improved processes to suit domestic conditions, helping to improve treatment effectiveness.
Since the first kidney transplant in 1992, Vietnam has been constantly improving: The liver transplant time from 12 to 14 hours is now only 6 - 7 hours, patients recover faster, costs are significantly reduced.
In the first multi-organ transplant in Vietnam, what was the most difficult for the team - the technique, the time pressure, or the weight of the "first time" in the history of the country's medical history?
- Donated organs are still a big challenge, including living donors - requiring absolute safety - and brain-dead donors, who can save many lives but the law is still inadequate. Viet Duc Friendship Hospital has become a leading organ transplant center, mastering multi-organ transplant techniques such as heart - lung, heart - liver, heart - kidney, performing the first heart - lung transplant in the country and has so far performed 2,478 cases, proving professional capacity, scientific value and humanistic spirit, where the passing of one person lights up the lives of many others.
Last September, the hospital performed the first heart-lyng transplant in the country, saving the patient in the final stage after 7 hours of surgery. This is an extremely rare technique, with only about 100 cases per year in the world, requiring the coordination of many teams and a strict resuscitation and anti- replacement process.
Each successful transplant is a revival. In your opinion, what changes are needed to spread the spirit of organ donation and remove barriers to insurance and costs to ensure fairness in access?
- Although there have been advances, organ transplantation activities in Vietnam still face many fundamental challenges.
organ sources are mainly from living donors, while organs from brain-dead people - the only source for the heart, lungs, and pancreas - are still very few. A brain-dead person can save many lives if the process and legal procedures are favorable.
The legality is still inadequate and has not kept up with reality. The regulation requires family opinions even if the donor has registered, causing the organ retrieval rate to be low, while many countries allow immediate treatment in time for timely treatment.
The "Giving is forever" campaign has raised awareness and increased the number of people registering to donate organs, but legal procedures and family opinions are still a major barrier.
The cost of organ transplants is high, insurance only covers part; many items such as support for donors or donation registration have not been taken into account and need to be adjusted to encourage organ donation and reduce the burden on the people.
Continue the journey of organ transplantation in Vietnam
When mentioning Vietnamese organ transplants, it is impossible not to mention those who laid the foundation such as Prof. Politburo member Ton That Tung and Associate Professor. Artist Ton That Bach. From the breakthrough vision of the seniors to today's achievements, according to you, how has the Vietnamese organ transplant industry gone through, and what is the core value, the greatest lesson that today's generation of doctors are continuing?
- The journey of organ transplants at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital is the result of many generations of doctors who have diligently researched, from animal transplants to successful cases in humans. On behalf of the organ transplant team, I thank Prof. Ton That Tung and Associate Professor. Ton That Bach - the ones who laid the foundation for liver transplantation, multi-organ transplantation, inspiring and leading the young generation of doctors. As early as the 1960s, in the context of war, Prof. Ton That Tung cherished the idea of organ transplantation and left behind the classic work "planned liver cutting", the foundation for liver transplantation and multi-organ transplantation techniques in the future.
After more than half a century, the "seeds" they planted have sprung up into modern Vietnamese organ transplantation, leading in techniques, standardizing processes and training human resources, fully continuing the heritage and passion of the masters.
Which moment did you feel most clearly the spirit of inheritance between generations of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital - a decision in the operating room, a process improvement, or an extremely difficult case?
- The moment I felt most clearly the spirit of inheritance between generations was in the operating room - where every movement, every decision carried the mark of the teachers who preceded me. Facing difficult cases, we always remember the bravery and intelligence of generations such as teachers Ton That Tung and Ton That Bach, who have overcome countless shortages to save the lives of patients.
It is the courage, creativity and respect for the profession that have become the bond that connects generations of Viet Duc doctors. Each technical improvement, each case saved today is not only the success of the current team, but also a way for us to continue the journey that the seniors have started.
Do you expect the position of the Vietnamese organ transplant industry to be enhanced in the next 5 - 10 years?
- The success of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital is not only in advanced techniques but also in humanistic value: Each organ transplant lights up the hope of life from the passing of others. Over the past century, Viet Duc has become a symbol of intelligence, courage and compassion, both a leading technical center and a cradle for training and inspiring the young generation of doctors. In the new journey, the hospital continues to lead in standardizing expertise, transferring techniques, participating in perfecting organ transplant policies and expecting that medical investment resources will develop sustainably, retain talent and improve treatment quality.
