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Tribune News Network
Doha
Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al Kuwari, this week, attended an event to mark 30 years of safe and successful organ transplantation surgeries at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), as well as recognise the many pioneers who have contributed to making the programme successful.
The event was arranged to recognise and honour living organ donors and the families of deceased donors. It also acknowledged Qatari transplant recipients who chose to have their procedure in Qatar rather than go abroad, signaling a confidence in the high professionalism of the organ transplantation team operating at Hamad General Hospital.
In 1986 a surgical team at HMC performed Qatar's first kidney transplant on a Qatari woman who received a donor kidney from her sister. Now, 30 years on, with a 98 percent success rate, HMC's organ transplantation programme is one of the most admired in the world.
"The success of Qatar's organ transplantation programme is something which we can be extremely proud of. With fairness and equity at its heart, our transplantation programme has been recognised internationally," Her Excellency said."Qatar's national strategy for organ transplantation is not only world-leading in terms of the clinical and ethical standards it applies but also one that is appropriate to the healthcare needs of our growing country and our diverse population."
Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation Director Dr Yousuf al Maslamani said HMC has decreased the number of patients who are travelling abroad for commercial transplantation by 70 percent.
"Over the last three decades, HMC has developed a robust deceased organ donation programme, liver transplantation programme and pediatric kidney transplantation programme," Dr Maslamani said."Last year saw the launch of our bone marrow transplantation programme and currently we are at the final stage of preparation to launch pancreas transplantation and islet cell transplantation. The wider organ donation and transplantation programme continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of our community and has been striving to fulfill its vision to provide the best quality care for all patients, irrespective of nationality, religion, or race."
During the event, which was held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Doha, the Medal of Altruism was presented to 38 living kidney donors, five living liver donors, three stem cell donors and eight families of deceased donors. Pioneers of the organ transplantation programme were also acknowledged, including Dr Ajaeb Alnabit, Dr Awadh Rashid, Dr Abulwahid al Mulla, Dr Usama Badawi, Dr Mohamed Salim, Dr Fadhil al Malik, Dr Amer Shaikhoni, Mona Jarman, Elham Almoamin and Sahar Burhan.
Dr Hassan al Malki, Head of Nephrology at HMC also spoke about the programme's world-class standards of quality and safety.
Qatar Organ Donation Center Director Dr Riadh Fadhil said the Center has worked tirelessly with the Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation to implement the Doha Donation Accord.
"HMC's full commitment to the Doha Donation Accord has seen the number of registered donors increase significantly over the last five years from 2,000 to more than 259,000," Dr Riadh said."The greater number of organ donors has led to an increase in kidney transplant procedures, which in turn as enabled new procedures to be implemented. It has also led to a majority of our patients choosing to have their procedures done in Qatar rather than travel abroad."
