KUALA LUMPUR: The number of patients on the organ transplant waiting list as risen to 10,297, with kidney patients making up the majority, as only a small percentage of donors fulfill their pledge after death.
Deputy Director of the National Transplant Resource Centre (NTRC) Dr Hasdy Haron said that as a result, patients in need of organ transplants are forced to wait longer and continue enduring their suffering.
Just 0.24 per cent, or 948 out of 393,951 individuals who pledged to donate their organs since 1976, have honoured their obligation after death, Utusan Melayu newspaper reported.
Dr Hasdy said many patients who have been waiting for over 10 years have passed away due to the inability to receive the required organs in time.
The majority of those waiting for new organs are kidney patients, with one in seven adults in the country suffering from chronic kidney disease, which contributes to the high mortality rate.
The number of people currently waiting for new organs stands at 10,297, the majority of whom are awaiting kidney transplants, he said.
"The country is still grappling with the issue of organ donor shortages, as statistics show only 1.2 deceased organ donors per million people. This is far from sufficient to meet the needs of patients requiring organ transplants," Dr Hasdy said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Heart Institute (IJN), Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, revealed that a total of 382,020 individuals have pledged to donate organs, including hearts, livers, and lungs.
However, only 0.02 per cent of these pledges have resulted in actual donations.
"Although many have pledged to donate their organs when the time comes, some families do not agree to proceed, among other issues," Dr Hasdy said.
"Therefore, strong cooperation from all parties is necessary to ensure the success of organ transplantation."