Azerbaijan has achieved a historic medical milestone, becoming the first country in the South Caucasus to successfully perform a heart transplant from a deceased donor, according to the Ministry of Health.
The Organ Donation and Transplant Coordination Center of the ministry reported that brain death had been confirmed in a patient treated at the Sabunchu Medical Center. Following the diagnosis, the patient’s family consented to organ donation, setting a powerful example of compassion and humanitarian spirit.
The heart transplant surgery was carried out at the Central Clinic by a specialized medical team led by the hospital’s chief physician, Professor Kamran Musayev. The recipient was a 19-year-old resident of Tovuz district (born in 2006), who successfully received the donor heart.
“This marks a historic day for Azerbaijani healthcare,” the Ministry stated. “It demonstrates the country’s growing medical expertise and commitment to developing advanced transplant programs.”
Officials extended their gratitude to the donor’s family for their noble decision, which gave another person a chance at life, and to the medical professionals who performed the complex procedure with precision and care.
The Ministry emphasized that the successful operation is part of Azerbaijan’s broader push to develop modern organ donation and transplantation infrastructure, reflecting the country’s steady progress toward international medical standards.
