“Unfortunately the number of patients on dialysis has gone up more than three times in the past 10 years as reported by the Malaysian Dialysis and Transplantation Registry (in 2001: 7,800 dialysis patients, 2010: 23,000 dialysis patients)” said director-general of health Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman yesterday.
He said among the most important challenges of organ donation faced by the Health Ministry was the huge disparity between demand and supply of organs and tissues in the country.
“From 1975 up to April 30, 2012, there have been 370 deceased donors contributing 1,187 organs and tissues, which have benefited many Malaysians. “The total number of donation is much lower compared to the demand,” he said at the opening of the 15th Scientific Meeting of the Malaysian Society of Transplantation 2012 held at a leading hotel here.
His speech was delivered by the State Director of Health Department, Dr Zulkifli Jantan.
Even though the donation rate in Malaysia of around 0.6 donations per million population was considered low, he added, it was important to acknowledge the fact that the donation had shown significant improvement in the past few years.
“The number of deceased donors for example recorded the highest last year (2011) since 1975 with 47 donors,” he said.
He said in 2011, the number of new organ donor pledges was the highest with 29,500 Malaysians registered with the National Transplant Resource Centre (NTRC).
He congratulated the National Transplant Resource Centre (NTRC), the Public Awareness Action Committee led by Tan Sri Datuk Lee Lam Thye and the Malaysian Society of Transplantation for the continuing effort in educating the public about the importance of organ donation.
He said according to the World Health Organisation, Malaysia was among 98 countries in the world providing transplant services to its people and “we are proud to say now we have the expertise in kidney, liver, heart and lungs transplant including haematopoietic stem cell transplant through donation of cord blood, peripheral blood or bone marrow”.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/19/15000-waiting-for-organs-to-be-donated/#ixzz1vGkanDMu
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