Update on organ donation

A nurse explaining to member of public about the importance of organ donation at Penang Hospital. (March 17, 2025) — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star.

THIS year marks five decades since the start of solid organ transplants in Malaysia. On Aug 13, World Organ Donation Day, we had an opportunity to reflect on how much progress we have made in this field since then.

The dermaorgan.gov.my website gives almost real-time details of the number of patients waiting for an organ transplant in Malaysia. It also shares the number of donors who have pledged their organs upon their demise. The total number is 403,532 so far in a population of 34 million people. Of these, only 1,014 have been actual donors.