No meds for unapproved ops

Star: BANGI: Malaysians who travel abroad for organ transplants provided on commercial basis will not be allowed to get free supply of immunosuppressant drugs from Government hospitals, which costs between RM800 and RM1,000 per patient per month.
These drugs are used to inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system and to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs and tissues.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the move, which takes effect from January, is to stop people from going overseas to get such treatment from unrecognised hospitals without the ministry's approval or knowledge.
He said many patients go for organ transplants at hospitals in foreign countries that are not recognised.
“They end up with complications while the Government still provides them with free medication for life,” he said here yesterday.
He had earlier launched the National Organ Donation Awareness Week at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia stadium here yesterday.
“We have many experts and hospitals with advanced medical technology that are able to perform successful operations.
“We do not condone organ trafficking. So we have decided to stop supporting these illegal operations by discouraging Malaysians from going abroad to gain organs commercially without the knowledge of the ministry,” said Liow.

According to the Malaysian Trans-plant Registry, between 2001 and last year, transplantations mainly involving the kidney, were largely done in China (834) and India (57).
Fifty-three surgeries were also carried out in countries like Australia, Spain and Russia while 10 were performed in unidentified countries.
Asked about patients who prefer to seek experts from abroad to perform the operation, he said: “They would have to first consult with the ministry, which will allow the operation if it is suitable.”
On an allegation that a local hospital was involved in commercial organ transplants, Liow said the Government does not support any international organ trafficking syndicate.
“The Government views the allegations seriously and would leave it to the police to investigate since police reports have been lodged,” he said, adding that there has been no evidence of this so far.
He said that Malaysia was committed to abiding by the WHO Guiding Principles on Human Cell Tissue and Organ Transplantation.
Public Awareness Action Commit-tee on Organ Donation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has proposed for the Road Transport Department to include in its driving licence application forms, a column to indicate whether the applicant was interested to sign up as an organ donor.
He added donors must inform family members to avoid complications.