The medical team at the 500-Bed Specialty Hospital (Yangon) achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducted 35th liver transplant operation.

Union Minister for Health Prof Dr Thet Khaing Win, accompanied by officials, comforted the recipient of the 35th liver transplant operation and donor at the Yangon Specialty Hospital, a 500-bed facility on the evening of December 19.

The operation for a 29-year-old male patient commenced at 7 am with the extraction of the required part of the liver from his cousin sister, the donor, and the operation ended at 3:30 pm. The liver transplant operation was conducted with the collaboration of Prof Dr Zaw Than Tun, Director-General of Medical Research Department, along with the department heads and directors-general of the department concerned, Prof Dr Sai Aung Nyunt Oo, Prof Dr Win Win Sway, Prof Dr Mu Mu Naing, Prof Dr Win Win Kyaw, Dr Sway Htet, Prof Dr Aung Cho Tun, Dr Thida Aung, retired Professors Dr Tin Tin Mar and Dr Kyi Kyi San, Medical Superintendent Dr Aung Lin Aye of the 500-bed Yangon Specialty Hospital, Associate Prof Dr Maung Maung Swe, Specialist Dr Yin Mu Yar, Specialist Dr Thazin Than, skilled nurses and medical workers.

The first two liver transplant operations were conducted at the new Yangon General Hospital in 2004 and 2009.  After the Yangon Speciality Hospital was established, it completed liver transplant operations – once in 2015, four times in 2016, six times in 2017, 11 times in 2018 and 10 times in 2019. Mandalay General Hospital conducted 14 liver transplant operations – three times in 2017, seven times in 2018 and four times in 2019, while the Yangon Children Hospital performed three operations in 2019.

The operations were suspended during the outbreak of COVID-19, and now they are resumed. Such operations enable patients to receive treatment locally and save on the medical expenses of going abroad for treatment.