Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has stressed the need for family members to consider donating an organ for their relatives on the waiting list for organ transplant.

HMC has launched a campaign to encourage people to consider donating an organ to save the life of a family member needing transplant surgery.

“Many people on the waiting list for organ transplants in Qatar probably have a family member who would be their best matching donors,” said Dr Riadh Fadhil, Qatar Organ Donation Centre (Hiba) director and transplant surgeon.

He stressed that it is possible to donate one kidney and a section of the liver while still alive, adding that the most successful kidney transplants are from living relatives.

The official maintained that the number of patients on the waiting list for organs in Qatar could be reduced significantly if a family member was to become their donor.

However, the official lamented that the patients are not willing to ask their relatives to donate. “We find that patients on dialysis who are waiting for a kidney transplant would not want to ask their loved ones to undergo surgery for their benefit. The reality is that the surgery is minimally invasive as it is done through laparoscopic methods and offers the recipient the best chance of a successful transplant.”

In addition, he said, the health of the donor is carefully monitored and therefore tends to enjoy better health than those who haven’t donated.

“Living kidney donors will not be accepted for donation unless they are in very good health and, after donation, they receive regular medical check-ups,” said Dr Fadhil. “International statistics have shown that living kidney donors live longer than those who do not donate as any newly-developed health issues will be discovered and treated immediately, therefore leading to a healthier and longer life.”

Meanwhile, HMC recently announced the results of a campaign held during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, asking the public to register to be organ donors after they pass away.

The campaign gathered more than 16,000 signatures and helped the public understand the importance of organ donation.

He stressed that many of the patients struggling through daily dialysis could be helped much faster if a family member was willing to donate. “If one of our candidates for an organ transplant has a family member who is a match but lives outside Qatar, we can still help,” he said. “We will bring the family member to Doha to make the donation here and cover all the associated costs. Our responsibility is to the health of all our patients in Qatar and if we need to bring the donors to them, then that is what we will do.”

Dr Fadhil also warned against the dangers of commercial transplantation abroad. “Some patients choose to travel overseas to buy an organ to be transplanted rather than ask a family member for help. This is frequently a dangerous and sometimes a deadly decision as patients can pick up infections and complications and the success rates are not good. They would stand a much better chance of a successful transplant operation here in Doha with a donation from a living relative.”

The Give the Gift of Life campaign by HMC features real-life patient stories from Qatar, where one family member has donated to another. A website - http://organdonation.hamad.qa - has been set up to provide more information about organ donation in Qatar.