The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) marked a major milestone on Wednesday with the successful pediatric liver transplant of a Filipino patient at Renji Hospital in Shanghai, China.
A two-year-old infant diagnosed with biliary atresia underwent the life-saving procedure on 11 February, with his father serving as the liver donor. The surgery was performed by Dr. Xia Qiang, a renowned liver transplant surgeon and president of Renji Hospital.
After a month-long recovery at Renji, the child, known as "Baby Nieco," and his father returned to the Philippines on 11 March to continue their treatment at CGHMC.
According to CGHMC President and CEO Kelly Sia, this success stems from a Medical Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed between CGHMC and Renji Hospital in 2023.
"A year ago, our vision of forming a medical alliance with Renji Hospital was driven by the goal of elevating our medical professionals' expertise in liver transplantation," Sia said.
"This partnership allows us to share knowledge, exchange insights into the latest advancements, and ultimately work towards reducing childhood mortality, minimizing complications, and improving outcomes for liver transplant patients by enhancing access to organ donors. Today, we proudly witness the fruits of that collaboration," he added.
Sia emphasized that the achievement paves the way for more accessible and affordable liver transplants in the Philippines.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa hailed the partnership as a significant step forward for Philippine healthcare.
"This not only brings hope to children suffering from biliary atresia but also signifies a new era in Philippine healthcare," Herbosa said.
He noted that liver transplants in the country have been rare, with only 59 procedures performed from 1988 to 2019. Of these, 21 patients survived, reflecting a 56% survival rate.
"This underscores the pressing need to expand our transplant capabilities," he added.
Renji Hospital is recognized as one of the world’s leading institutions in pediatric liver transplantation, having performed over 3,800 pediatric liver transplants in the past five years.
The CGHMC-Renji Hospital alliance marks a groundbreaking step in advancing liver transplantation for Filipino children and sets the stage for future medical partnerships and innovations.