17/04/2025
A Milestone in Philippine Liver Transplant Care
On April 12, 2025, 14-month-old King Leo Laurora became the first patient to undergo a liver transplant through the Joint Liver Transplant Program of The Medical City and Rizal Medical Center—a historic public-private healthcare partnership.
For years, many Filipino families with children diagnosed with end-stage liver disease have had to seek treatment abroad, facing overwhelming emotional and financial burdens. This program was created to change that—bringing advanced, compassionate transplant care within reach of more patients, right here at home.
King Leo’s transplant was made possible through the living liver donation of his mother, Maricar, who also became the first patient in the Philippines to undergo a fully robotic donor hepatectomy using the Da Vinci Xi system. She was discharged just two days after her procedure.
The operation was carried out by a unified team of Filipino surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensive care specialists, and nurses—from both The Medical City and Rizal Medical Center This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to delivering world-class care in the Philippines—accessible, sustainable, and led by local expertise.
This landmark procedure is the first successful result of the TMC–RMC partnership, which was formally launched earlier this year to expand access to liver transplantation across the country. It demonstrates how strong collaboration between public and private institutions can translate bold vision into real outcomes for Filipino patients.
Dr. Stuart Bennett, President and Group CEO of The Medical City, emphasized the transformative potential of collaboration between the government and the private sector, highlighting that such synergies could pave the way for groundbreaking advancements, including the establishment of a national referral center for liver transplantation.
Similarly, Department of Health (Philippines) Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa endorsed the program, recognizing the issue of limited access to liver transplantation in the Philippines. He commended the partnership for taking steps to address this challenge, affirming that the country has the capability and capacity to perform this complex procedure locally and consistently deliver excellent results.
This initiative was also made possible by the support of Dr. Ruben Kasala, EVP andCEO of The Medical City Ortigas, where the transplant was successfully performed. Dr. Kasala championed the proposal to form the TMC–RMC liver transplant team when it was first presented by Dr. Vanessa de Villa, Head of the Center for Liver Health and Transplantation at The Medical City—laying the groundwork for the program’s launch and the success of its very first case.
King Leo continues to recover well, with steady improvements. His story marks the beginning of a program built not only to save lives—but to transform what is possible for Filipino patients and families.
