Over 1,500 Waiting for Corneal Transplants; Red Cross Partners with Firm for Repair Initiative

Across Taiwan, more than 1,500 patients are still waiting for corneal transplants. The Red Cross of the Republic of China has partnered with a private firm to shift from "replacement" to "repair," with the biotech company donating collagen-based corneal matrix and hemostatic dressings to bring hope to those waiting for sight. The Red Cross recently announced a public welfare partnership with ACRO Biomedical. In a press release, the Red Cross explained that this collaboration combines ACRO Biomedical's collagen medical material technology with the Red Cross's humanitarian service network to assist vulnerable patients, military personnel, and their families in vision reconstruction, wound care, and surgical recovery. According to statistics from the Organ Donation and Transplant Registry, over 1,500 patients are waiting for corneal transplants, while only 155 donations have been completed as of late April this year, leaving a severe supply-demand gap. Red Cross President Pan Wei-ta stated that the core of humanitarian work is to minimize human suffering as much as possible, noting that many vulnerable groups still face a lack of medical resources. In recent years, ophthalmology has been moving toward "repair rather than replacement," using regenerative medicine materials to repair damaged tissues and promote cell regeneration, providing patients with more immediate and flexible treatment options beyond traditional transplants. However, the costs remain a burden for vulnerable families. In this partnership, ACRO Biomedical will donate two innovative medical materials: collagen corneal matrix and collagen hemostatic dressings. ACRO Biomedical Chairman Hsieh Ta-jen said he had a deep connection with the Red Cross, having served as a postdoctoral researcher at the American Red Cross laboratory 30 years ago. He has previously donated medical dressings to assist victims of the Kaohsiung gas explosion and injured military personnel in Pingtung. He hopes this partnership will reduce the gap in medical resources through public welfare. For patients with corneal damage due to trauma, infection, or ulcers, vision deterioration is not just a medical issue but also brings fear of blindness, caregiving pressure, and loss of income. The Red Cross emphasized that the partnership does not involve commercial promotion or product endorsement and will continue to work with medical institutions to ensure the aid is delivered professionally and transparently.