10,000 renal failure patients face waits of up to 13 years amid low procurement rate
PETALING JAYA: The kidney is now the highest on the “wanted list” of organs, with 10,000 renal failure patients waiting for transplants.
National Transplant Centre (NTC) director Dr Mohd Syafiq Ismail Azman, who disclosed this, said the problem was being compounded by the low organ procurement rate from deceased donors.
Those in need of kidney transplants typically have to wait between 10 and 13 years, he said.
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The wait could drag on for years to come, based on the grim statistics of the Health Ministry.
As of March, Dr Mohd Syafiq Ismail said, the overall organ transplant waiting list stood at 10,268, with other patients also waiting for liver, cornea and heart transplants.
Chronic kidney disease stands out as a serious health concern in the country with treatment costs rising to RM3.3bil annually, compared with RM572mil in 2010.
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Although more than 424,000 Malaysians have pledged to donate their organs since 1997, Dr Mohd Syafiq Ismail said the actual number remains alarmingly low mainly due to objections from families of the deceased.
He said only 89 of 1,320 cases referred for organ and tissue donation last year resulted in successful organ procurement.
“This translates to just one successful procurement for every 15 referred cases.
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“Most cases failed to proceed as the next of kin of donors withheld consent for procurement,” he said, adding that signing up as an organ donor is no certainty of donating one’s organs upon death.
Dr Mohd Syafiq Ismail said the most common reason for refusal by family members is the misconception that the “deceased will suffer from the process of organ procurement”.
Another reason is families claiming to be unaware of the deceased’s wish to donate their organs.
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“There are also families worried about the organ procurement process delaying funeral arrangements, with others concerned about disfigurement of the remains,” he said, citing religious beliefs as another factor.
All this leads to lengthy waiting periods for patients in need of life-saving organs, with patients on the heart transplant list having to wait an average of 14 years.
Dr Mohd Syafiq Ismail said registering as an organ donor alone is not good enough, unless family members are made aware of it.
“Organ donation is an act of compassion that can save lives and transform families. If you support organ donation, please do not just stop at registering your pledge.
“Have an open conversation with your loved ones so they clearly understand and respect your wishes.
“Family awareness of your wish and intention is critical in ensuring procurement is possible,” he said.
He also called for stronger donor identification, referral and coordination systems across hospitals as well as continued investment in workforce training, governance and partnerships between the public and private healthcare sectors.
Dr Mohd Syafiq Ismail said private hospitals could play a bigger role by helping to identify and refer potential donors earlier while working with the ministry on public awareness campaigns.
“The involvement of private healthcare services is an important step towards strengthening the overall transplant ecosystem in Malaysia,” he said.
Association of Private Hospitals president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said preliminary discussions have been held with the ministry to explore how private hospitals could potentially support efforts to increase organ pledges and organ donation in the country.
“We are still in the process of exploring various possible avenues and methods for collaboration,” he said.
