We partner with hospitals in heavily populated regions, resulting in the most impact for the greatest number of children. We work in Brazil, China, India, Malaysia and Vietnam, countries that are home to almost 40 percent of the world’s population.

  • Brazil
  • China
  • India
  • Malaysia
  • Vietnam

With a population of 200 million, Brazil is the most populous country in South America and has one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Yet poverty is prevalent, and many parts of the country remain largely undeveloped. Pediatric cardiac programs in Brazil can’t meet the needs of the majority of children who need treatment.

There is a shortage of trained specialists to treat and manage congenital heart disease. The most complex surgeries are performed in the large urban and public hospitals, where most citizens receive free care from Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS), the largest public health system in the world. The existing infrastructure to diagnose and treat congenital heart disease in many parts of the country is limited, with an unequal distribution of resources between states in the northern, central and southern regions of the country.

We began working in Brazil in 2009. More information about our work in Brazil here. 

Our Partner Hospitals:

* Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence

We began working in China in 1999. With a population of 1.38 billion, China is the most populous country, with one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Despite the economic growth it has experienced over the last decade, many parts of the country remain largely underdeveloped and struggle with poverty.

Children with congenital heart disease face a shortage of pediatric specialists and uneven access to medical care. In many areas of this vast country, patients and their families must travel great distances to seek treatment. In 2009 congenital heart disease became the leading cause of infant mortality in China, surpassing poverty-related illnesses such as diarrheal diseases and tuberculosis. More information about our work in China here. 

Our Partner Hospitals:

* Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence

India is the world’s second most populous country, with one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Yet the country still struggles with poverty, and children with congenital heart disease face a shortage of pediatric specialists and uneven access to medical care. India has a population of 1.25 billion and only an estimated 120 dedicated pediatric cardiologists, very few of them serving in the public sector.

While many more programs are needed, there are some excellent pediatric cardiac programs in India. In 2014 our partner Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) received a BMJ Award India for Quality Improvement in Healthcare for achieving dramatic reductions in infections and mortality. We began working in India in 2000. In addition to our partner hospitals, we also work with the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the National Board of Examinations, and a local NGO, People 4 People. More information about our work in India here.

Our Partner Hospitals:

* Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence

In Malaysia 2,000-3,000 children require heart surgery every year, yet most don’t get the care they need. There are few pediatric cardiac programs and long patient waiting lists in this country of 31 million people. Geographic challenges contribute to the challenges of access to care. Malaysia occupies parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. The most complex heart cases are sent to Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur. We began working in Malaysia in 2008. More information about our work in Malaysia here. 

Our Partner Hospitals:

* Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence

In Vietnam very few children receive optimal treatment for congenital heart disease, especially infants with the most serious conditions. Most children are never diagnosed or treated, and the vast majority will die prematurely. There are few pediatric cardiac programs in this country of 95 million.

The most complex surgeries are performed only in large urban centers, and they struggle with long patient waiting lists. In 2017 only five centers had the ability to provide surgery for children under 1 year of age. Provincial and district hospitals largely lack the infrastructure to diagnose and treat congenital heart disease. We began working in Vietnam in 2008. More information about our work in Vietnam here. 

Our Partner Hospitals:

* Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence