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Organ donation

Following is a question by Dr the Hon David Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is reported that the number of registered new organ donors is drastically below the number of people in need of kidney transplant, and that doctors fear a slowdown in the number of registered organ donors may have serious repercussions over the next five years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the number of registered new organ donors in each of the past three

years;

of the reasons for the public's reluctance to register as organ donors;

whether additional resources will be provided for the launching of publicity campaigns to enhance the public's awareness of the importance of organ donation?

The Department of Health does not have a registration system for organ donors. To promote organ donation, the Department distributes voluntary organ donation cards The card is an for members of the public to take, fill in and carry with them. acceptable legal document for the purpose of authorising organ donation and further consent by next of kin is not required. Between 1994 and mid-1996, a total of over 1.5 million cards were distributed.

The Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) keeps an Organ Donation Register. According to information provided by them, the Register contained 170,101 entries as at 24 December 1996. This represents the total number of organ pledges, including 26,025 people pledging their kidneys. A breakdown is at Appendix. The number of entries is not the same as the number of organs or organ donors, since a person can choose to donate multiple organs. The HKMA does not maintain a yearly breakdown.