Chinese General Hospital completes first sponsored liver transplant
A Filipino child with biliary atresia received a life-saving liver transplant from his father, marking a milestone procedure made possible through CGHMC and Renji Hospital’s partnership.
CGHMC
A Filipino child has successfully received a liver transplant at no cost to the family, following a partnership between the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) and Shanghai Renji Hospital. The surgery marks the first fund-sponsored pediatric liver transplant for a Filipino patient, reinforcing CGHMC’s commitment to improving access to specialized healthcare through international collaboration.
The transplant was performed on a two-year-old diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare and life-threatening liver condition. The child’s father served as the living donor. CGHMC covered the procedure in partnership with Renji Hospital, Mindray, and the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc.
“This incredible feat would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our partners,” said CGHMC President and CEO Kelly Sia during a media briefing held at the hospital auditorium. He credited the medical teams from both institutions, including CGHMC’s Dr. Samuel Ang, Dr. Sammy Cunanan, and Dr. Noruel Gerard Salvador.
The transplant follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between CGHMC and Renji Hospital, allowing CGHMC doctors to receive advanced training in liver transplantation. Two batches of Filipino specialists have already completed training in Shanghai.
“Today, we proudly witness the fruits of that collaboration. A child has been given a new lease on life,” Sia said.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa noted that liver transplants remain limited in the Philippines, with only 59 procedures performed between 1998 and 2019. “This partnership presents a welcome opportunity to deepen our medical ties,” Herbosa said in a recorded message. “We aim to strengthen our healthcare infrastructure to support more transplant procedures.”
Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz also expressed support for the collaboration, calling the transplant “a testament to the successful partnership between China and the Philippines in the field of medicine.”
CGHMC said the partnership with Renji Hospital aims to reduce barriers to liver transplant access in the Philippines, particularly for children. More procedures are expected to follow as local capacity is strengthened.