ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA – A groundbreaking medical partnership between South Korea and Mongolia has dramatically improved liver transplant care in a nation grappling with the world's highest liver cancer mortality rate. Seoul Asan Medical Center (AMC) has successfully transferred living-donor liver transplantation expertise to the First Central Hospital in Ulaanbaatar, resulting in over 300 lives saved in the past 15 years.   

Mongolia's severe liver cancer crisis, highlighted by its top ranking in global liver cancer incidence by the World Cancer Research Fund, prompted the Mongolian government to seek assistance in 2009. Recognizing the urgent need, AMC launched a comprehensive skill transfer project in 2011, part of its "Asan-in-Asia" initiative, a program modeled after the "Minnesota Project" that bolstered South Korea's medical infrastructure in the 1950s.   

The collaborative effort has yielded remarkable results. After two years of intensive training, the first living-donor liver transplant was performed in Mongolia in September 2011. By 2015, Mongolian doctors were performing the complex procedures independently. To date, 192 Mongolian medical professionals have received training in South Korea, while 214 AMC doctors have traveled to Mongolia to provide on-site support and mentorship.   

The 305th successful transplant, performed on February 22nd, exemplified the project's profound impact. A 25-year-old son, Galbadrakh, donated a portion of his liver to his mother, Enkhmend, 41, who was suffering from cirrhosis. AMC has generously covered the costs of these life-saving surgeries.   

"When we began this partnership, Mongolia lacked the necessary technology and equipment, forcing patients to seek treatment abroad," stated Dr. Lee Sung-Gyu, a professor at AMC who spearheaded the "Asan-in-Asia" project. "Seeing over 300 lives transformed through liver transplantation fills me with immense satisfaction."

Looking ahead, AMC is committed to further advancing medical capabilities in Mongolia, with a focus on establishing advanced techniques like donor laparoscopic liver resection. "We will continue to provide unwavering support for the development of cutting-edge medical technologies in Mongolia," affirmed Professor Jung Dong-Hwan of AMC's Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery. This ongoing collaboration represents a significant stride in improving healthcare access and outcomes for the people of Mongolia.

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