On December 5, at the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Dong Do Hospital and the official launch of the Tissue Bank, MSc. Dr. Dinh Thi Phuong Thuy - Executive Director of Dong Do Hospital said that according to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Vietnam currently has more than 300,000 people blind due to corneal diseases, an increase of about 15,000 new cases each year. The cornea transplant waiting list is currently at about 1,000 patients, while donated tissue is still scarce, not meeting the widespread treatment needs. Through standard cornea transplantation, most patients can restore their vision. However, the source of tissue for cornea transplantation is still limited, not meeting the needs of widespread treatment.
Faced with that reality, in September 2025, the Ministry of Health officially granted Dong Do Hospital a license to operate the Tissue Bank, marking an important milestone in the hospital's journey to perfect the "treatment ecosystem".
"Mo Bank will undertake the entire chain of closed processes according to international standards, from receiving, screening, quality control, preservation, traceability to tissue distribution for clinics. This is an important foundation for implementing advanced transplant techniques, including cornea transplantation; helping to shorten waiting time, increase access and improve the reliability of treatment outcomes for patients. Proactively identifying cornea and laryngology helps the hospital respond quickly to emergency cases of eye surface damage, reduce dependence on external tissue sources, increase the success rate of transplants and open up recovery opportunities for patients who seem to have no hope - MSc. Dr. Dinh Thi Phuong Thuy shared.
In addition to corneas, Bank of tissue also stores and preserves amniotic fluid from healthy postpartum mothers - a source of precious tissue in the treatment of corneal surface diseases and many complex emergency situations.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen highly appreciated the results that Dong Do Hospital has achieved over the past 15 years. The hospital has successfully received and treated hundreds of thousands of patients, from common cases to complex cases that require high technology.
The Deputy Minister of Health suggested that Dong Do Hospital continue to promote the achievements it has achieved; promote the application of science and technology, develop high techniques, enhance digital transformation, and move towards a smart hospital model. At the same time, the hospital needs to pay more attention to the field of regenerative medicine, tissue transplantation - organ transplantation, in parallel with maintaining medical ethics, promoting volunteer activities and social responsibility.
The launch of the Tissue Bank not only opens up opportunities to revive light for thousands of patients but also affirms the pioneering role of Dong Do Hospital in the strategy of developing ophthalmology and regenerative medicine in Vietnam.
