THE Philippine Society of Nephrology-Mindanao (PSN) is actively promoting the `no payment' principle of organ donation, according to PSN's past president Dr. Maria Theresa Bad-ang.
Speaking at the Kapehan sa Davao at The Annex of SM City Davao on Monday morning, October 23, Bad-ang said, “Ang isa ka donor man jud karun is dapat voluntary, dili gibayaran, ug dili gi-threaten, number two healthy, and number three is match sa atoa (A donor should willingly come forward, without payment, without coercion)."
She outlined the criteria for a suitable donor: they should voluntarily offer their organ without any form of payment or threat, be in good health, and be a compatible match.
She noted that the most compatible donors are typically immediate family members like siblings, parents, and children. If they are unavailable, other relatives, such as cousins, uncles, and aunts, or emotionally connected non-relatives, may be considered.
In desperate situations, families sometimes resort to engaging paid non-related donors, although this is a complex process.
The PSN underscored the ethical standpoint that organ donation and transplantation should never involve financial transactions, and individuals should not expect monetary compensation for donating their organs.
Bad-ang highlighted the significant demand for organ transplants, with 500 dialysis patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and approximately 2,400 patients throughout the Davao Region. Each month, an additional 100 patients are added to the list.
While the government, through programs like PhilHealth, provides 156 dialysis sessions, the PSN believes that the ideal solution is to reduce dependence on dialysis by promoting organ transplants.
The national organ donation waitlist contains around 120 patients eagerly awaiting organ transplants. She disclosed that some patients have been on the waitlist for up to five years, and tragically, some pass away while waiting for a donor. These donors are typically deceased individuals whose hearts still beat but are declared brain dead.
Bad-ang emphasized that the PSN exclusively accepts living donors who are in good overall health and free from conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or urinary problems. She noted that living organ donors can lead fulfilling lives for up to 40 years, provided they maintain a healthy lifestyle.
As of 2023, there have been approximately 120 organ transplants, including eight from deceased donors since 2012. She added that most deceased donors come from the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, there should be 10 donors per million population. However, in 2023, only 14 deceased donors were recorded in the Philippines, and in Davao City, SPMC exclusively received eye organ donations. This situation has prompted the PSN to advocate for the legal donation of organs from brain-dead patients, which could significantly benefit others on the transplant waiting list. RGP
