KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — Malaysia’s kidney transplant rate is among the lowest in the region and in the world, National Organ Donation Awareness Action Committee chairman Lee Lam Thye said.
He said Malaysia desperately needs more organ donors, especially kidney donors.
“The latest statistics show more than 22,000 patients with kidney failure are awaiting kidney transplant,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.
“Although kidney transplants have been done in the country for the last 40 years, the transplant rate in Malaysia is among the lowest not only in the world but Asean countries as well.”
Lee said awareness on this is important as the number of cases with end stage kidney failure is increasing.
The transplant rate is dropping each year and this has indirectly influenced many patients to opt for transplants illegally abroad which is dangerous, said Lee.
He urged Malaysians to change their perception on kidney donation, saying there were no health risks to donors besides it being a noble thing to do.
