Novartis Vietnam, HCMC University Medicines Center partner for Comprehensive Transplantation Management using UMC Care

Signing ceremony between Novartis Vietnam and HCMC University Medicines Center

Under the partnership with Novartis, UMC Care app has two functions:

- Position as a platform for the hospital and its transplant patients to manage their diseases proactively and effectively; facilitate increased interaction with patients before and after transplantation and manage organ donation.

- Provide resources for UMC to build a transplantation patient education program for prospects. This program will utilize the digital platform of the UMC Care app to post patient educational materials, articles, videos for healthcare professionals (HCP).

Ph. D, Dr. TS.BS Phạm Văn Tấn – Deputy Director of HCMC University Medicines Center commented about the partnership with Novartis Vietnam: “We believe this collaboration would allow patients and their caregivers nationwide to access credible information sources. Particularly, the application will enable transplantation patients at UMC to interact and connect with their doctors anytime, anywhere.”

As per the data from the Ministry of Health, Vietnam had conducted approximately 7,500 organ transplants by the end of March 2023. The number of organ transplants in Vietnam has seen a significant rise, increasing from 283 cases in 2014 to 1,004 cases in 2022.

The success rate of organ transplants in Vietnam is on par with other countries in the region. The immediate post-transplant success rate is over 95%, and the survival rate after five years is between 85-90%. Among these transplants, kidneys account for 90%, while the remaining 10% includes heart, liver, lung, and pancreas transplants.

Despite significant progress in organ transplantation over the past 30 years, Vietnam still faces challenges. These include a lack of organ sources, limit  ed transplantation coordination, low treatment adherence, improper post-transplant treatment leading to transplant rejection and risk of death. Patients also face knowledge gaps about post-transplant care, unstable immunosuppression supply, and a lack of effective interaction platforms.

Mrs. Karina Ng, Country President, Novartis Vietnam said: “As a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry, Novartis takes pride in being a trusted partner of the Vietnamese healthcare system. Our primary focus is always on the patients, and we continually seek solutions to ensure they have access to innovative, high-quality medicines. These efforts aim to enhance their health and extend their lifespan. Furthermore, we are dedicated to initiating community healthcare projects and broadening cooperative programs, all in an effort to boost the operational efficiency of Vietnam's healthcare system. We hope that the sponsorship for UMC Care would help bridge the gaps that transplantation patients are facing.”

Since 2018, UMC has started implementing organ transplantation. Currently, UMC is managing about 100 kidney transplant patients and 50 liver transplant patients. UMC's future plans include positioning transplantation as the hospital's top priority in the next 3-5 years. They aim to develop a Transplantation Excellence Centre at UMC as the biggest in South Vietnam (including Heart, Kidney, Liver Transplant).