Only 3 Lung Transplants Completed This Year as 18 Patients Wait in Hong Kong
HK01 · 7 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hospital Authority announced on November 12 that as of September 2026, approximately 2,631 patients are waiting for organ transplants across Hong Kong, with 18 cases specifically awaiting lung transplants . Despite November 14 being designated as Organ Donation Day, only 3 lung transplants have been completed in the first nine months of this year, compared to 71 total organ transplants including 48 kidney and 16 liver transplants . Dr. Yan Si-wan, Acting Department Head of Tuberculosis and Chest Medicine at Grantham Hospital, explained that lungs are more prone to infection than other organs, making suitable donations extremely rare . A 66-year-old former hairdresser named Raymond, who underwent lung transplant surgery after battling pulmonary fibrosis for over 16 years, urged the public to register as organ donors and share their wishes with family members .
Key Points
- Hong Kong has 18 patients currently awaiting lung transplants out of 2,631 total organ transplant candidates as of September 2026 .
- Only 3 lung transplants were completed in the first nine months of 2026, accounting for a small fraction of the 71 total organ transplants performed .
- Lung donors are primarily brain-dead patients on ventilators, making lungs highly susceptible to infection and reducing viable donations .
- Recipients must be under 65 years old, have normal organ function beyond their lungs, and match donors in blood type and body size .
- Raymond, 66, regained 60-70% of his physical capacity after his lung transplant, crediting donors for giving him a second life .
Why It Matters
The stark gap between the 18 patients awaiting lungs and the mere 3 transplants performed highlights a critical shortage that costs lives, as patients with end-stage lung disease face extremely high mortality rates during the waiting period . While Hong Kong maintains a cross-border organ sharing mechanism with mainland China, no lung transplants have succeeded through this route due to the organ's vulnerability during transport, underscoring the urgent need for increased local organ donation registration .
The stark gap between the 18 patients awaiting lungs and the mere 3 transplants performed highlights a critical shortage that costs lives, as patients with end-stage lung disease face extremely high mortality rates during the waiting period . While Hong Kong maintains a cross-border organ sharing mechanism with mainland China, no lung transplants have succeeded through this route due to the organ's vulnerability during transport, underscoring the urgent need for increased local organ donation registration .