Materia Medica Malaysiana

No decision yet on incentive for organ donors

No decision has been made yet on a proposal by the National Transplant Resource Centre to the Cabinet two years ago for free medical treatment for spouses and children of organ donors.
Since 1991 An officer, who declined to be named, said the proposal was tabled by former Health Minister, Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
The idea behind the proposal was to get as many donors as possible, especially Malays, to donate their organs. Since 1976 he said, no Malays had donated organs.
"The move was aimed at getting more people to come forward. It is also a token of appreciation for donors and their families."
The officer added that the centre will embark on a nationwide road tour to instil awareness among the people on the need to have more organ donations.
The roadshows which will take off in May, will be jointly organised by the Health Ministry and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
It was reported in the New Straits Times recently that four people could die within a month unless Malaysians get over their squeamishness about donating organs.
The four are in the critical stages of lung disease and need lung transplants. However, their chances of getting a second lease of life are not looking good.
In fact, the future looks bleak for anyone looking for any type of organ transplant.
No Malaysian has donated lungs, kidneys, livers or any other organs in the first three months of the year.
Besides the four in need of lung transplants, 25 people are in urgent need of liver transplants and more than 5,000 need kidney transplants.
National Transplant Resource Centre co-ordinator Dr Lela Yasmin Mansor said there were also hundreds of children and adults waiting for people to donate their corneas, bones, skin, heart valves and hearts.
She said the bone bank at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital was "dry", as were the National Tissue Centre at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital and University Malaya Medical Centre.
Although nearly 85,000 people have pledged their organs, when it comes to actual donors only a handful come forward, Dr Lela said.
Those wishing to pledge their organs or donate organs of dead relatives can contact the National Transplant Resource Centre at toll free number 1800-88-9080 or 03-2694 2704/5.