MAKATI CITY — Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) achieved a major milestone in the country’s healthcare system after successfully carrying out a five-organ retrieval procedure in April 2026, the first operation of its kind in the Philippines. The donor, who passed away due to an acute brain hemorrhage, was able to provide the liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, and corneas for transplant procedures that could help save several lives. The accomplishment also surpassed MakatiMed’s previous three-organ harvest completed in 2025.
A Collaborative Medical Breakthrough
The highly specialized procedure was made possible through the combined efforts of MakatiMed’s multidisciplinary team of physicians, surgeons, nurses, and operating room personnel. Specialists from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, and the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines also participated in the operation. The retrieval was conducted under the Human Organ Preservation Effort (HOPE) Program through a memorandum of agreement with NKTI, reinforcing efforts to improve organ donation and transplantation services in the country.
Before the operation began, MakatiMed healthcare workers honored the donor through an “Honor Walk,” a solemn tribute in which hospital staff lined the hallways in silence as the donor was transported to the operating room.
A Message of Gratitude and Hope
MakatiMed Interim Co-President, CEO, and Medical Director Saturnino P. Javier, MD, expressed appreciation for the dedication shown by the medical teams involved in the historic procedure while also honoring the generosity of the donor and the donor’s family.
He thanked the doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals who worked tirelessly for hours during the operation and encouraged the MakatiMed community to offer prayers for the donor’s eternal repose. Dr. Javier also extended heartfelt gratitude to the family for their selfless decision, which gave hope and a second chance at life to other patients in need.
