JOHOR BARU: Some 25,000 kidney patients in Malaysia are still waiting to undergo kidney transplant procedures although the number of kidneys available for transplants are very small.
National Transplant Resource Centre’s Organ and Tissue Procurement chief coordinator Dr Omar Sulaiman said on average, only between 30 and 40 kidneys are available for transplant every year.
“The number of kidney patients in Malaysia increases by about 1,000 every year. That is why, the best option for kidney patients who need to undergo a transplant is to speak with their family members, especially siblings,” said Dr Omar who was speaking to the media after attending the Sultanah Aminah Hospital’s (HSA) Organ Donation Awareness Week celebration, here.
Also present were Johor Health Department deputy director (medicine/hospital) Dr Izam Suleiman, who was representing the State Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal, and HSA director Dr Musa Rabu.
Dr Omar said the number of people who have pledged to become organ donors in Malaysia is still low.
As of Aug this year, only 424,143 Malaysians have pledged to become organ donors.
“This is just over one per cent of the total population in Malaysia. Pledging to become an organ donor does not mean that your organs will be automatically harvested once you have passed away because we still need the consent from your family members.
“That is why, if you have pledged to become an organ donor, you should not hide the fact from your family so that they would respect your intention,” said Dr Omar.
Meanwhile, Dr Izam urged private hospitals in Johor to coordinate with HSA’s Transplant Resource Centre if any of their patients want to donate their organs.
“When a private hospital informs the centre about a possible organ donation, a team from the centre will go to the hospital to conduct the necessary prodecure there. It is free of charge, which means that the patients’ next-of-kin will not be charged by the private hospital for the procedure.
“So far, three private hospitals in Johor have agreed to coordinate with the centre, namely KPJ Puteri Specialist Hospital, Regency Specialist Hospital and Gleneagles Medini Hospital. We want all 13 private hospitals in Johor to do the same,” said Dr Izam.