Mongolia’s transplant expansion advanced this month after Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav announced major funding for critical medical infrastructure. He revealed the decision during a January 2 visit to the Cell, Tissue, and Organ Transplantation Center. The government allocated MNT 2.02 billion to establish a national histocompatibility laboratory supporting transplant procedures. Officials described the move as essential for improving survival rates and accelerating access to lifesaving surgeries.
The histocompatibility laboratory will play a central role in strengthening Mongolia’s transplant expansion framework and clinical decision making. Specifically, the facility will test genetic compatibility between donors and recipients before transplant surgeries. Consequently, doctors will better predict rejection risks, post-operative complications, and long-term treatment effectiveness. Additionally, the same laboratory equipment will support cancer diagnostics through early genetic tumor detection.
With the laboratory operational, the State Second General Hospital will perform tissue matching internally for kidney and liver transplants. Previously, hospitals relied on external testing processes that often delayed surgeries for critically ill patients. Therefore, officials expect faster scheduling, improved coordination, and greater procedural efficiency nationwide. Moreover, the change significantly strengthens Mongolia’s self-sufficiency in transplant medicine.
Hospital administrators initially planned ten liver transplants and five kidney transplants during the current calendar year. However, the transplant expansion initiative allows medical teams to raise surgery volumes beyond original projections. As capacity increases, physicians anticipate shorter waiting periods and improved patient outcomes across regions. Health authorities emphasized that infrastructure growth directly affects national transplant survival rates.
Kidney disease currently dominates Mongolia’s organ transplant waiting lists, reflecting broader public health challenges nationwide. Of 1,094 registered transplant candidates, 683 require kidney transplants, while 182 await liver transplants. Furthermore, official data shows more than 250 new kidney transplant candidates join waiting lists annually. These figures illustrate sustained pressure on healthcare resources and transplant services.
A joint Ministry of Health and World Health Organization assessment highlights widespread chronic kidney disease across Mongolia. Estimates suggest between 100,000 and 120,000 citizens live with some form of kidney-related illness. Each year, approximately 1,300 to 1,500 patients begin hemodialysis treatment nationwide. Meanwhile, 60 percent of chronic kidney failure patients ultimately require dialysis or transplantation.
Medical professionals stressed that rising kidney failure cases and stagnant mortality trends demand urgent policy intervention. Consequently, experts view transplant expansion investments as critical to long-term public health resilience. They also urged continued funding for donor awareness programs and specialized workforce training. Looking ahead, officials said further laboratory upgrades and regional transplant centers remain under evaluation.
