JKPK Recommends New Law, Reform Of Organ Transplant System

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- The Parliamentary Special Select Committee (JKPK) on Health has recommended a comprehensive reform of the national organ donation and transplant system, including the enactment of a new law to replace the Human Tissues Act 1974 and the strengthening of the National Transplant Resource Centre (NTRC).

Its chairman, Suhaizan Kaiat, said the recommendations were contained in the Committee's Report on the Reform of the National Organ Donation and Transplant System, which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today following a comprehensive study of governance, implementation, expertise development, funding, infrastructure and public awareness of organ donation.

He said piecemeal improvements were no longer sufficient and that a comprehensive reform was needed to ensure the system could meet current needs and future challenges.

Among the key recommendations is the drafting of a new act to replace the Human Tissues Act 1974, including provisions to recognise brain death and donation after circulatory death, introduce the concept of national organ ownership, and strengthen regulation of overseas transplant activities.

“The NTRC should be strengthened as the main coordinator of policies, clinical standards, training and data management for organ donation and transplantation at the national level, including through the establishment of a real-time data monitoring and organ allocation system to ensure transparency and continuous auditing,” he said.

The committee also proposed that the Health Ministry and Finance Ministry establish a special fund for the organ donation programme to help low-income patients meet the costs of long-term immunosuppressive medication, follow-up treatment and surgery in private hospitals, where necessary.

Bank Negara Malaysia was also urged to study the implementation of a Social Takaful for Organ Pledgers scheme as a social protection incentive for living organ donors and the families of deceased donors.

In addition, the committee recommended strengthening the organ donor registration system through integration with MySejahtera, driving licences and identity cards to facilitate registration.

Suhaizan said the committee also called for stronger human capital development and career pathways for transplant specialists, recognition of transplantation as a national priority area, fixed annual budget allocations, and the expansion of transplant centres nationwide.

As of June 30, a total of 3,657 transplant procedures had been carried out in the country, while 10,170 patients remained on the waiting list for organs from deceased donors.

The committee found that more than 1,100 potential organ donations could not be realised due to the lack of family consent, highlighting the need to strengthen public understanding of and confidence in the national organ donation system.

More than 55,000 patients currently depend on dialysis treatment, a figure projected to exceed 104,000 by 2040, while dialysis treatment costs nearly RM2 billion annually.

"The proposed reform is not merely aimed at increasing organ donations or the number of transplant procedures performed each year, but at building a system that is more efficient, better organised, more trusted by the public and better able to meet patients' needs nationwide," he said.

-- BERNAMA