Huashan Hospital children’s liver transplant project, launched in July 2021 by Shanghai Yanhua Foundation and Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, aims to save children with financial difficulties from end stage liver diseases with early, timely, and safe liver transplants better health.

          1.     Project Name

          Huashan Hospital children’s liver transplant project

          2.     Background Information

          a.      Financial Assistance

          Liver transplant surgeries can cost up to 100,000 yuan, a sum that often becomes a financial burden for the patients’ families even during early stages of treatment. According to sources, the surgery abandonment rate for children with end-stage liver diseases is as high as 85% because of the high cost of operation.

          b.     Target Recipient

         Children from struggling families who suffer from end-stage liver diseases (biliary atresia, genetic metabolic liver disease, acute liver failure, liver rumor, etc.) with a loss of liver function and are in need of liver transplantation. 

           c.      Purpose

          To save children with end-stage liver diseases from families with financial difficulties through safe and timely liver transplants.

           d.     Our Mission

           To protect the right to life of our patients with a focus on support for families with financial difficulties.

           e.      Existing experience and cooperative relationship with Huashan Hospital liver transplant center

           Huashan Hospital liver transplantation center was established in the beginning of the 21^st century and was heavily involved in the rapid development of liver transplantation technology in the last decade. Since May 2014, it has not only established scientific and advanced liver transplantation procedural systems, but also brought in numerous talents in the field under the leadership of Professor Qin Lunxiu and Professor Wang Zhengxin. More than 200 liver transplant surgeries are completed at the center every year, including adult liver transplantations, pediatric liver transplantations, living-donor liver transplantations, split liver transplantations and more, all with success rates reaching international standards.

          As of August 2021, the team at Huashan Hospital has completed over 200 pediatric liver transplantations with 5-year survivability rates of over 90%, ranking top among the children’s liver transplant hospitals in the country while reaching the international level.

          The team covers more than 20 provinces, autonomous regions, and other municipalities, including Yunnan, Guangxi, Ningxia, and other underdeveloped counties in the western region. Types of surgery include various complex liver transplantation operations, such as mirror human liver transplantation, rescue liver transplantation for acute liver failure, secondary liver transplant, etc. Funding secured for these operations has exceeded 10 million yuan.

          Professor Wang Zhengxin from Huashan Hospital liver transplantation center is the vice chairman of the Shanghai Yanhua Charity Foundation. With more than 2000 successful liver surgeries and decades of professional experience, he leads a strong Huashan liver transplant team. Professor Wang Zhengxin also has a kind heart and is a huge advocate for public welfare undertakings. He hopes to help more children suffering from end-stage liver diseases by giving them another chance of life.

          3.     Execution

          Based on the situation of the patients’ families, their economic conditions are evaluated, and the cost of the liver transplant, postoperative treatment, and rehabilitation of the children will be funded accordingly by the charity.

（Translated by Chen Marco Haotian, a volunteer)