Organ donation rate low despite campaigns
PETALING JAYA: Although more families are now coming forward to donate organs of their brain dead or deceased family members, the organ donor rate in Malaysia is still very low compared to many countries in the region and around the world.
Deputy Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai (pix) said the greatest gift to give someone is to donate an organ, and this is seriously lacking.
"We are not getting enough organs and tissues despite all the aggressive campaigns. We are getting a lot of pledges, but the problem is these pledgers must inform their next-of-kin to allow them to donate their organs," he added.
He said there were thousands of people waiting for kidneys, corneas, livers, heart, heart valves, bones and tissues to lead a quality life.
"They can only happen if families agree to donate the organs of their loved ones," he told theSun.
Citing an example, he said, there were thousands of Malaysians with renal failure and each of them is spending thousands of ringgit every year on dialysis.
"Only a renal replacement therapy or a kidney transplant can assure them a better life," said Dr Jeyaindran.
Between January and July 14, the authorities only managed to get organs and tissues from 25 people who were either brain dead or had died.
They managed to get 18 kidneys, five livers, one heart, 34 corneas, five bones, six heart valves and one skin from these donors.
"These are not enough to meet the demand," he said, adding that during the same period last year they managed to get 25 kidneys, two livers, one heart, 61 corneas, 10 bones, and 13 heart valves from 44 donors.
Currently, there are 18,447 end-stage renal failure patients desperately waiting for kidneys, 14 for liver, five for heart and three for heart and lungs.
"These are cases where if they don't get their organs soon, they may die," said Dr Jeyaindran.
Meanwhile, National Transplant Resource Centre chief national transplant coordinator Datin Dr Lela Yasmin Mansor said their aggressive campaigns were seeing more families coming forward to donate the organs and tissues of their deceased family member but was not enough to meet the demand.
"We are also seeing many Muslims coming forward to pledge their organs. This is a very positive sign," she added.