Oman launches organ donor programme

Muscat: In a move to save lives, Oman on Sunday launched the new organ donor card for brain-dead patients.

Individual consent to donate organs will be specified on the donor card, according to the Ministry of Health.

Dr Ahmad Al Saidi, Minister of Health, said that there is a huge shortage of organs, including kidneys, heart, lungs, eyes and pancreas, in the country.

Al Saidi said there was currently a successful programme for kidney transplant, but unfortunately there was a shortage in the number of donors.

“Because of the limited kidney donors, it is imperative that we find another mechanism for kidney donation — organ donation after a person is brain-dead in accordance with religious, legal and medical practices,” said the minister.

Al Saidi called on the public to obtain the new card to donate organs, pointing out that organs from one individual can save eight lives at least.

Al Saidi explained that 46 per cent of renal failure in the country is due to diabetes, followed by high blood pressure.

Dr Eisa Al Salmi. head of the Department of Nephrology and chairman of the Committee on the development of kidney disease services in Oman, said there is an increase in the number of renal disease cases in the country.

“One per cent of the patients suffer from severe renal failure, while nine per cent suffer from medium renal failure and 30 per cent light renal failure,” said Al Salmi.

Al Salmi affirmed that the best treatment for patients suffering from renal failure is only by transplanting organs from the brain-dead persons.

The number of those who donated their kidney in 2011 and 2012 stood at 120, according to the Ministry of Health figures.

There are no statistics on those who donated of their organs after becoming brain-dead.

In 2014, Shaikh Ahmad Al Khalili, the grand mufti of Oman, passed a fatwa allowing organ donations after brain death under special conditions.

Observers believe organ donors are scarce in the country as Omanis are reluctant due to the belief that the dead body is sacred in Islam.

Ahmad Al Hatmi, a social worker, told Gulf News that most recipients of organs get them from their relatives.

Al Hatmi said he knew of his relative who donated his kidney to his brother in 2011.

Al Hatmi said both the brothers are now healthy and have families.

Intensive campaigns to raise awareness of people on organ donation, could increase the number of donors, observers feel.

A 2010 survey published by Elsevier showed that 64 per cent of respondents in Oman stated that they would donate a kidney to a relative with renal failure, but that only 49 per cent knew that donation after death is permitted by Islam. It also found that only 35 per cent would donate a kidney or an organ after death. The study concluded that there was low awareness of Omanis on donation after death. It suggested public education and awareness programmes, particularly targeting high school and university students.