In response to Viet Nam Organ and Tissue Donation Day (May 20), on May 19, Nhan Dan Newspaper, in coordination with the National Coordinating Centre for Human Organ Transplantation and the Viet Nam Association for Donation of Human Tissues and Organs, organised a seminar themed “Journey of Hope,” while also signing the 2026–2031 communications and advocacy cooperation programme on organ and tissue donation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information, Education, and Mass Mobilisation, and Chairman of the Viet Nam Journalists' Association, stressed that Viet Nam’s organ transplantation techniques in recent years have been assessed as being on par with those of countries possessing advanced medical systems.
However, to ensure a sufficient supply of tissues and organs for transplantation, Le Quoc Minh said Viet Nam needs comprehensive solutions, ranging from improving mechanisms and policies to promote organ and tissue donation, retrieval, and transplantation, to strengthening communications efforts in order to create a clear change in public awareness and encourage people to proactively register for organ and tissue donation after death or brain death.
Therefore, the signing of the 2026–2031 communications and advocacy cooperation programme between Nhan Dan Newspaper, the National Coordinating Centre for Human Organ Transplantation, and the Viet Nam Association for Donation of Human Tissues and Organs goes beyond sharing touching and humane stories about organ donors and transplant recipients. It also expands to activities encouraging organ and tissue donation, as well as organising training and capacity-building programmes on communications and advocacy skills related to organ and tissue donation.
He affirmed that Nhan Dan Newspaper would closely coordinate with the two organisations to effectively implement the signed contents and produce high-quality journalistic products for the public, thereby contributing to the development of the organ and tissue donation movement in Viet Nam.
“Nhan Dan Newspaper stands ready to accompany efforts to improve the legal framework and mechanisms related to organ donation and transplantation; develop policies for counselling and organ and tissue donation activities; and build a professional, effective transplant system in line with legal regulations,” the Editor-in-Chief affirmed.
Dr Ha Anh Duc, Head of the Department of Medical Service Administration under the Ministry of Health, said Viet Nam’s mastery of numerous advanced transplantation techniques comparable to those of leading countries was a source of pride. However, he noted that the current bottleneck remains the shortage of donated organs. Although Viet Nam has 34 centres promoting organ and tissue donation, the number of donations remains very modest, with only 300 organ and tissue donation cases recorded over the past 10 years.
Emphasising the important role of communications in promoting organ and tissue donation, Dr Ha Anh Duc expressed hope that the cooperation among the three parties would create a breakthrough in communications efforts and lead to a shift in public awareness.
Speaking at the ceremony, Associate Professor and Dr Dong Van He, Director of the National Coordinating Centre for Human Organ Transplantation, said the biggest challenge for Viet Nam remains the extremely low number of organ donations from brain-dead donors.
According to him, changing this reality must begin at the root, namely public awareness and community support. He expressed hope that Nhan Dan Newspaper would help guide accurate, scientific, and humane information on organ and tissue donation from brain-dead donors, thereby contributing to sustainable changes in social awareness.
At the ceremony, Que Dinh Nguyen, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper; Associate Professor and Dr Dong Van He, Director of the National Coordinating Centre for Human Organ Transplantation; and Dr Nguyen Hoang Phuc, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Viet Nam Association for Donation of Human Tissues and Organs, signed the 2026–2031 communications and advocacy cooperation programme on organ and tissue donation. Immediately afterwards, delegates officially launched the organ and tissue donation registration campaign.
Under the signed agreement, the three organisations will coordinate in organising nationwide communications campaigns, seminars, and advocacy programmes encouraging organ and tissue donation registration.
They will also develop articles, reports, and thematic features highlighting inspiring stories about donors and transplant recipients. In addition, the parties agreed to organise training and capacity-building activities for communications and advocacy personnel working on organ and tissue donation at localities and medical facilities.
In recent years, Viet Nam’s healthcare sector has made significant efforts to develop organ transplantation, including mastering advanced techniques, expanding the organ donation and transplantation network, and encouraging people to donate organs.
