JEDDAH — A total of 1,798 people have registered as organ donors through the electronic program run by the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT), according to the center's director.
The electronic system runs concurrently with the manual one where potential donors have to appear in person and sign necessary documents, said Dr. Faisal Abdulraheem Shaheen.
He said: “The number of those who registered as organ donors in the manual system has reached 3 million since the system was launched. Their ID cards indicate their consent to donate organs.”
The center still wants driving licenses and identification cards to state that their holders are organ donors if consent has been given. No final decision has been made but the center expects higher authorities to approve the request eventually.
The center argues that there would be benefits if the proposal gets approval, such as allowing an organ donor's family to be aware of their son and daughter's wishes after death.
Shaheen said: “Even with the organ donor's signature, his wish cannot be fulfilled after his death unless his family also gives consent.
“We explain the importance of organ donation to donors and their families and how such a noble act can save the life of a patient.”
Latest developments in the organ donation program allow donors to give away all functioning organs.
The center works closely with its regional offices and ICUs and adopts the World Health Organization (WHO)'s new mechanisms in this regard.
ICUs will report any brain dead cases to the center or the representative office. The center will also design proper plans and review the performance of hospitals and ensure all of the hospitals are fully cooperative.
The financial incentives given by the government are to honor the donor during his life or after death, Shaheen explained.
“It is a way of saying thank you to the donor. The donor will also be decorated with the King Abdulaziz Third Class Medal.
“Those who donate organs while alive will also receive different benefits from the government.”
