Advancing the Health Silk Road through ASEAN Medical Collaboration

UNDP South-South|Galaxy Knowledge Hub

Advancing the Health Silk Road through ASEAN Medical Collaboration

International Training Project on Organ Donation and Transplantation

Challenges

Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam faced significant gaps in organ transplantation capabilities, with no prior success in brain-dead donor kidney transplantation by Quang Ninh General Hospital. The lack of technical systems and trained medical personnel hindered treatment for end-stage organ failure patients. This project addressed these challenges by transferring China’s mature organ donation and transplantation expertise to Vietnam through South-South cooperation, enabling localized sustainable development of medical resources and breaking the technical barrier.

Toward a Solution

This project aimed to achieve a “zero-to-one” breakthrough in organ transplantation in Quang Ninh General Hospital, directly aligning with SDG 3 (universal health coverage) and SDG 17 (global partnerships). A dual-track “theory + practice” model was adopted, including international training workshops, surgical observation, simulation exercises, and case studies to systematically transfer expertise in donor management, recipient screening, transplantation surgery, and post-operative care. The Chinese team provided tailored clinical mentoring to ensure localized adaptation of the technology.
Through memorandums of understanding, joint training plans, and regular evaluations, the project fostered deep collaboration. From 2024 to 2025, three international training sessions were held, engaging 12 Vietnamese trainees and medical professionals from five other ASEAN countries. In April 2025, under remote guidance from the Chinese team, Vietnamese practitioners successfully performed Quang Ninh General Hospital’s first brain-dead donor kidney transplant, with the patient recovering well—a milestone validating the technical transfer.
The initiative’s innovation lies in its “technology transfer + localization” model, combining standardized protocols with flexible adjustments to address cultural and resource disparities. Quantifiable outcomes include: Quang Ninh General Hospital’s first successful transplant, 12 certified Vietnamese trainees, and the Chinese team’s cumulative experience of 3,000 transplants.
To ensure sustainability, long-term mechanisms such as academic forums, telemedicine platforms, and staff exchange programs were established. The project elevated Quang Ninh General Hospital into a regional transplantation hub and strengthened the China-Vietnam cross-border healthcare network. Lessons highlight the importance of localized training, policy alignment, and sustained funding for replicability.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Sun Xuyong, Vice President of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University & Director of Institute of Transplant Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University

SDG
03 - Good Health and Well-being

SUPPORTED BY
Technical support (training, clinical mentoring, surgical guidance)

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