Hamad Medical Corporation honours 124 organ donors and their families

Doha: The Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has honoured 71 living kidney donors, eight living liver donors, 10 stem cell donors and 35 deceased donor families in a special ceremony in Doha.

The ceremony, held at Katara Opera House, marks the most successful year ever for Qatar’s Organ Transplant and Organ Donation Programs, with more kidney transplants than ever before being conducted at HMC. 

Other achievements of the last 12 months include three successful lung transplant operations during the first year of the programme launch. 

At the event, which coincided with Qatar Organ Donation Center’s (Hiba) 10th anniversary, the Medal of Altruism was presented to 124 living donors and the families of deceased donors. The event also saw acknowledgement of 23 Qatari kidney transplant recipients who chose to have their transplant surgery in Qatar rather than going abroad for treatment.

Dr. Riadh Fadhil, Director, Qatar Organ Donation Center and member of the World Health Organization Expert Group, said that the nation’s organ donor registry surpassed 500,000 registered donors,  representing around 25 percent of Qatar’s adult population.

“There are more than 131 nationalities represented in the registry that reflected positively on the rate of organ donation among all nationalities, which is a unique achievement. Respect for human rights, autonomy and equity made Qatar a model of ethical and best clinical practice that is much-admired by the international transplant community,” Dr. Riadh said. 

An organ transplant can be a life-saving procedure. It can also significantly improve the quality of life for someone with chronic organ failure. A deceased organ donor can save up to eight lives. It is also possible to donate a kidney or part of the liver while alive.

Medical Director of Hamad General Hospital and Director of Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani, said Qatar’s organ transplant programme offers kidney, liver and now lung transplant surgeries making HMC one of the most comprehensive transplant centres in the region.

“Since the start of our transplant programme in 1986, we have worked hard and strengthened the exceptional care we provide to our patients. We have in place a multidisciplinary team with some leading international experts that enabled us to deliver the highest levels of care to our patients who need these procedures,” said Dr. Al Maslamani. 

Dr Abdallah Al Ansari, HMC’s Chief Medical Officer said the organisation has worked tirelessly with the Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation to implement the tenets of the Doha Donation Accord.

"The people of Qatar, both citizens and residents, continue to show their support for Qatar's unique, world-class, and equitable organ donation and transplant programs and we thank them for their unwavering support. I am proud of this tremendous accomplishment, and I would like to thank all of my colleagues and cadres in all transplant and organ donation programs for their tireless efforts and dedication to their ongoing work. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health for her unwavering support and personal efforts in the development of the organ transplantation service.