The Cardiovascular Operation Department of the ‘P.N.Shastin’ State Central Third Hospital in the Mongolian capital performs over 200 operations annually. According to doctors, congenital heart defects in children are related to air pollution and hygiene during pregnancy. During the winter months, Ulaanbaatar is one of the most polluted cities in the world.

Surgery expenses are 75 percent financed by the Mongolian government – the remainder by the patient under an agreement of the Ministries of Labour and Social Protection, Health and Finance. Following this agreement, the number of surgeries increased by 5-6 times from 40-50 annually.

Doctors from the Cardiovascular Operation Department regularly practice in South Korea’s Yonsei and Seoul University Hospitals and exchange experiences.