PUTRAJAYA, Sept 7 — The Ministry of Health (KKM) expects the target ratio of one organ donor per million population to be achieved in the near future, says Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
“The current ratio is 0.7 donors per million population but various efforts are being taken to encourage more people to pledge as organ donors,” she said, adding are were currently 370,130 organ donation pledges, of which 22,268 were registered this year.
Speaking to the media after officiating the 2023 National Organ Donation Awareness Week earlier today, Dr Zaliha said the organ donation rate among Malaysians is still among the ten lowest in the world.
“There is a significant gap between the number of patients on the transplant waiting list which is 10,747 people compared to the number of organ donors after death, namely 845 people,” she said.
Various efforts have been implemented to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation including through sermons at mosques, as there are still Muslims who are uncomfortable with organ donation.
“In general, all religions recognise organ donation as a noble practice. No religion prevents its adherents from doing good,” she said, adding that for Muslims, the National Fatwa Council had issued an edict of harus (allowed) for organ donation and transplantation since June 1970.
— Bernama
