Despite new donation program, organ supply unable to meet demand in Oman

Muscat: A growing number of Omanis are opting to become organ donors since the launch of a landmark organ donation program for brain-dead patients last March. More than 450 Omanis, many of whom are medics, have signed up to donate their organs after their death, according to figures provided by the capital’s Royal Hospital.

Oman in March became the latest Muslim country to allow organ donations in a program that was hailed as necessary to address the chronic shortage of organs in the country. Oman faces shortages in organs including kidneys, hearts, lungs, eyes and pancreas.

Organ donation is rare in Muslim countries as the body is considered sacred in Islam

In 2014, Oman’s Grand Mufti Shaikh Ahmad Al Khalili passed a fatwa, a religious edict, permitting donation of organs once brain-dead under “special” conditions.

Before the fatwa, those in need of transplants would wait for imported organs to arrive.

Suad Al Farsi, 23, was one of Oman’s first recipients of an organ donated locally. She received the ultimate gift of a kidney from a donor last year after three years of suffering. She considers her donor to be a hero.

“Before my transplant, I could never imagine the direction my life could take. I was depressed that I would die at any moment due to the severe pain I was going through. I’m so grateful for the man and his family. They are are my family now after this precious gift,” wept Suad in an interview with Gulf News.

The experience has encouraged Suad to return the favour to someone else someday. Saud plans to join the donor programme in the coming days and promises to campaign on its behalf.

Despite intensive campaigns by donors, however, health authorities in Oman say that demand for organs far outweighs the supply. Officials at the Royal Hospital told Gulf News that there are more than 1,600 patients on dialysis machines in the country waiting for kidney transplants.

There are also other patients waiting for lung, liver, pancreatic and corneal transplants, which the government says is a major challenge to overcome.

The Omani government spends 2,000 rials per month per patient to cover the cost of dialysis, while organ transplants have a one-time cost of 4,000 rials. Transplants would therefore go a long way in cutting the ministry’s costs.

Many Omanis desperate for organ transplants have been travelling outside the country to buy organs on the black market from Pakistan, India, Egypt and Thailand due to the shortage of the organs in the country.

Leading Omani urologist at Sultan Qaboos hospital, Dr Qasim Bin Mohammad Al Busaidi, told Gulf News that Omanis spend thousands of rials on such procedures. “Many such transplants fail as they are done by inexperienced surgeons,” said Al Busaidi.

Al Busaidi added that the hospital received more than 70 patients who underwent illegal organ transplants outside the country in 2015 alone, and 95 per cent of them died due to surgical complications. Saeed Al Muqbali travelled to Pakistan last year with his ailing 19-year-old son for an illegal kidney transplant but his son left the surgery feeling worse than before. “We were waiting for a transplant in Oman but his health deteriorated. I can’t ever forget the harrowing experience,” said the father. Al Muqbali paid around 14,000 rials for the transplant in Pakistan. To add to his woes, he discovered upon returning to Oman that the kidney he purchased on the black market was not a healthy one.

His son is still undergoing medical treatment at the Royal Hospital and he is reported to be in good health.

Last year, 40 Omanis died while waiting for a kidney to be made available for transplant. The country is facing a major shortage in organs, including kidneys, heart, lungs, eyes and pancreas, according to the Ministry of Health.

The ministry has launched extensive campaigns nationwide to spread awareness on the importance of organ donation.

Applicants can visit the Royal Hospital to fill out the form or call the hospital and provide their details.

Eight lives can potentially be saved if one person donates all of his or her organs, Health Minister Ahmad Al Saeed had said earlier.

“Because of the limited kidney donors, we are encouraging people to donate, in accordance with religious, legal and medical practices,” he said.

Forty-six per cent of kidney failure in the country is caused by diabetes, followed by high blood pressure, he said.

Kidney disease is on the rise in the country, according to Eisa Al Salmi who heads the Department of Nephrology in Oman.

Naser Al Jasasi, 40, said he was inspired by Ishaq Al Siyabi, the first Omani to obtain an organ donor card under the programme. Al Siyabi, the former vice chairman of the elected Shura Council, took to social media to announce his membership and call on others to join him.

Al Jasasi told Gulf News that Al Siyabi inspired him and many other Omanis, who rushed to the organ clinic at the Royal hospital in the capital. “It is my national duty to do so as many Omanis are desperately need organs transplants,” said Al Jasasi.

He added that he took his decision as he believes that many patients suffer “every day, every hour, every minute and every second” and they are in dire need of organs. Al Jasasi, how has a strong social media following in Oman, has also urged citizens to donate their organs. He cited religion as an incentive to save lives.

Ahmad Al Balushi, another organ donor, told Gulf News that he and his friend Mohammad Al Zadjali applied for the donor card two weeks ago, thanks to the campaigns on social media.

“Many social media users launched campaigns urging Omanis to donate their organs after death. I’m feeling so happy to go to the organ clinic without any hesitation. At least I did something good to save a life, which I’m so proud of myself,” said Al Balushi.

His friend Mohammad suggested that instead of giving separate donor cards, donor information should be included on the national identity card. “Hundreds of young Omanis die in fatal road accidents every year and Oman should do something in this regard,”, said Al Zadjali.

Al Zadjlai believes that taking the organs from those who die in the road accident can save many lives. On average, two people are killed in road accidents every day in Oman. Oman has an alarmigly high number of road accidents, with 6,276 crashes recorded in 2015, resulting in more than 675 deaths.