Vietnam Ministry of Health proposes age limits for organ donation

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has proposed new regulations in a draft law regarding the donation, retrieval, and transplantation of human tissues and organs. Under the proposal, individuals aged 18 to 25 would only be permitted to donate living body parts to family members. For donations to non-family members, the minimum age requirement would be 25.

The Ministry noted that current laws lack sufficient legal frameworks for organ retrieval after circulatory death, a practice that accounts for approximately 28% of donations globally. Additionally, the proposal aims to address age-related inadequacies and strengthen protections to prevent the disguised trafficking of human tissues and organs.

As of March 2026, Vietnam has recorded 11,187 organ transplant cases, including 9,969 kidney transplants, 1,005 liver transplants, 177 heart transplants, and 27 lung transplants.