Almost 13,000 patients on organ transplant waiting list as of July

As of July, nearly 13,000 patients were on the organ transplant waiting list in Malaysia, with the majority awaiting kidney transplants. According to the Health Ministry's National Transplant Centre, 12,228 adults and 307 children were waiting for kidney transplants, while 16 patients were on the liver transplant list, followed by 14 awaiting heart transplants, three for lungs, and seven for heart-lung transplants.

The estimated waiting period for kidney transplants ranges from five to 23 years, while liver transplant patients must wait between two months and two years, and heart-lung transplant patients between four months and 3.8 years, according to data from relevant hospitals and institutes.

As of July, 235 organs were recovered from donors, with the highest number being corneas (126), followed by kidneys (58), bones (24), livers (14), heart valves (10), and individual organs of the heart, lungs, and skin. As of July, 436,542 people had pledged to donate their organs. Organ donation can be categorized into living donation and donation after death, with living donation limited to one kidney or liver part due to the body's ability to function with one healthy kidney and the liver's regenerative capacity.

Donation after death is possible for brain-dead individuals, where organs such as kidneys, heart, lungs, and tissues like corneas, bones, skin, and heart valves can be considered for donation. However, not all organs or tissues from a donor can be used, and each donation undergoes careful assessment by medical teams based on organ condition, function, the donor's medical history, and suitability for potential recipients.

Organ donation offers end-stage organ failure patients the chance to receive life-saving treatment, while tissue donation can enhance the quality of life for recipients.