GOVPH

Filipino boy gets new liver in successful transplant by PH, Shanghai hospitals

10 March 2025, SHANGHAI – Nieco Vince Vazquez, a two-year-old boy from the Philippines, became the recipient of a successful liver transplant - a collaboration between two hospitals from Manila and Shanghai.

The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) has partnered with Shanghai’s Renji Hospital to conduct a successful liver transplant for Nieco, whose family is from Malabon.

The child’s father Herdie served as the liver donor for the operation performed on 11 February 2025.

Dr. Xia Qiang, President of Renji Hospital, led the procedure with a medical team from CGHMC.

Dr. Xia said this pioneering partnership between Renji Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and CFHMC serves as a cornerstone for fostering deeper bilateral ties in medical science.

“That this operation was performed this year is a delightful coincidence as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China,” said Philippine Ambassador Jaime A. FlorCruz.

“Nieco Vince’s story is a testimony to the longstanding cooperation between the Philippines and China, in this case, demonstrated by the strong professional linkages between the Renji Hospital and Philippine Chinese General Hospital,” the Ambassador said during a celebratory gathering at Renji Hospital on 10 March 2025.

This collaboration takes its roots to a Memorandum of Understanding on Medical Cooperation signed by CGHMC and Renji Hospital in May 2024. The MOU covers physician training, technological exchange, and clinical collaboration, recalled Dr. Samuel Ang, Medical Director of Chinese General Hospital.

According to CGHMC, it has since then sent two batches of doctors to Renji Hospital for professional training. The first group of six doctors, specializing in surgery and anesthesiology, focused on enhancing their skills in liver transplantation. The second batch, composed of eight doctors, accompanied the patient and specialized in pediatric liver transplant surgery, pediatric anesthesia, and pediatric critical care.

The two-year-old patient previously was diagnosed with biliary atresia.

The patient underwent a rigorous screening and assessment process before being approved for a liver transplant. The comprehensive funding for this initiative—including surgical costs, hospitalization, travel expenses, and post-operative rehabilitation at CGHMC—was jointly sponsored by CGHMC and Mindray, with coordination by Philmed Dynasty Corp.

Mr. Antonio Tan, Chairman of the Board of the Philippines Chinese Charitable Association, spoke on behalf of the groups of Filipinos who helped facilitate the boy’s liver transplant.

In addition, Ms. Teresita Ang-See, Founding President of Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran Foundation, played a crucial role in facilitating the patient’s medical journey to China by expediting visa applications – in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing– and necessary documentation for both the child and his parents.

The boy’s parents Herdie and Editha expressed appreciation for the two teams of doctors and all the people behind the successful operation.

The Ambassador said: “With the success of the procedure, you have given a young boy a new lease on life and answered the prayers of his loving parents. A life worth living and a future yet to be explored. It is my hope that as Nieco Vince grows older, we will continue to be reminded that our mutual trust and compassion for each other’s welfare came together and manifested itself in saving a young boy’s life.”

Ambassador FlorCruz expressed hope for more future collaboration between the two medical institutions.

“I am confident that there is much that can be explored in the field of medicine and medtech between the Philippines and China. The Philippines has an established reputation of producing top professionals in the medical field, including doctors and nurses, while China remains on the cutting edge of advanced medical research and technology and the use of smart infrastructure to support the efficient operations of large hospitals like Renji Hospital,” Ambassador FlorCruz said.

Dr. Chunming Wang, Director of Smart Hospital Development of Renji Hospital, said the 181-year-old institution is the first Western public general hospital in China. It uses AI, virtual reality, and other technologies to fully digitalized medical space, which he calls a “metaverse hospital.” (30)

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Note: Additional photos may be accessed at CGHMC website: https://cghmc.com.ph/advancing-healthcare-cghmc-and-renji-hospital-perform-first-pediatric-liver-transplant-fora-filipino-patient/