File photo of organ donors getting registered
Doha: As a result of ongoing awareness campaigns, the country’s Organ Donor Registry has shown a remarkable increase in registered potential donors over the last ten years.
According to Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba), number of registered organ donors in the country reached 500,105 in 2022, a 207 time increase from 2,424 donors in 2012.
The number of living organ donors has also increased and made a positive impact on the overall organ transplantation programme.
“Every year the number of the deceased donors and living donors is increasing, and the number of transplantations is increasing,” Director of Hiba, Dr. Riadh Fadhil said, while speaking to media recently.
With 83 living donors and 35 deceased organ donors, 2022 saw the highest number of organ donations since the country’s organ transplantation programme began.
The organ donor registry is a national, confidential list of individuals who have agreed to donate their organs after their death.
It can be quickly accessed in the event of a death to see whether an individual has registered their willingness to be an organ donor. Qatar has a single waiting list for organ transplantation with unbiased access to transplant services, irrespective of nationality.
This year’s annual Ramadan Campaign for Organ Donation Awareness was held in 10 locations across the country.
As part of the campaign, information booths were staffed by Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) representatives who provided the public with information about becoming a registered organ donor, including the process involved and the benefits. The campaign encourages public to consider giving the gift of life and registering to become organ donors and to promote a culture of organ donation in society.
The campaign has achieved remarkable success in the past and has succeeded in attracting a large number of organ donors.
As a result, more than half a million donors have registered to donate their organs after death. This represents nearly 25% of the adult population in Qatar, which is a significant accomplishment, according to Dr. Fadhil.