The Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health performs the largest number of heart transplants in Ukraine

Even despite russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the transplantation system in Ukraine has not only survived but continues to develop. Our doctors successfully transplant hearts, lungs, kidneys, and livers.

For the past three years, the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health has been a transplantation center, whose team performs the largest number of heart transplants in Ukraine per year, including for children. The Institute also performs kidney and liver transplants.

Since 2022, 10 heart transplants have been successfully performed here for children. In 2024, the institute’s team performed 30 heart transplants, including three for children. All patients with transplanted organs continue to recover, gradually returning to full life.

In 2024, after a long break, lung transplants were resumed in Ukraine. This was done at the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health - the first lung transplant for this institution.

Last year, 337 patients in Ukraine received new kidneys, 107 received livers, and 71 Ukrainians received new hearts. The largest number of organ transplants were performed at the Lviv TMA (140), the Shalimov National Research Center for Surgery and Transplantology (91), and the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (52).

There was a significant increase in hematopoietic stem cell transplants, with their number growing by 18% compared to the previous year. In 11 medical institutions, 404 transplants were performed, including 58 for children. The leaders in this area were the NSCH Okhmatdyt (81), Kyiv City Center for Nephrology and Dialysis (74), and Cherkasy Center for Oncology, Hematology, Transplantology and Palliative Care (72).

As of the beginning of 2025, there are 3,578 patients on the national waiting list of the Unified State Transplantation Information System. From this queue:

• 2,276 people are waiting for kidney transplants;
• 615 are waiting for a donor heart;
• 586 need liver transplants.

The goal of the Ministry of Health remains the same - to provide as many annual transplants as possible.

Not only can an increase in the number of transplant centers and relevant specialists have a positive impact on the speed of the industry development plan, but also an increase in the level of donation.

Anyone can write a consent for organ donation. It should be given to the transplant coordinator of the reference hospital or transplant center.