RIYADH, 15 May 2004 — Senior health experts called on individuals, institutions and media organizations in the Kingdom to raise awareness about the liver donation program, which can help save many lives. More than 4,000 patients are currently on the waiting list for liver transplants but many will die before a donor is found according to speakers at an international symposium on hepatocellular carcinoma organized by National Guard Health Affairs at King Abdul Aziz Medical City (KAMC) here on Tuesday. The event was attended by a panel of international experts, who provided a global perspective in topics such as epidemiology of viral hepatitis, liver lesions and hepatology.
An exhibition featuring literature, medicines, medical books and equipment was also organized on the sidelines of the event. In the symposium, many doctors and consultants stressed the need to educate the general masses about organ donation.
Referring to liver transplants in the Kingdom, Dr Bandar Al-Knawy, chairman of the Scientific and Organizing Committees of the symposium, said that the main problem is the limited number of donors.
“That leads to patients remaining on the waiting list for years. Many of them die before any donor is available. It is important to raise awareness through the media to tell people that they can help save lives. They can sign an agreement with hospitals to donate their organs when they die.”
“We have all facilities, treatment and therapy available in our hospitals. We have transplantation facilities at the local King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH & RC) and at King Abdul Aziz Medical City,” said Dr. Al-Knawy. “Also, the cost of a liver transplant is less in Saudi Arabia than in European countries,” said the doctor adding that the only problem is the shortage of organs.
According to a study, “The organs of only 28 percent of the reported brain dead cases are harvested in Saudi Arabia and only nine percent are used for liver transplants.”
“The reluctance on the part of the donors is the problem. We only perform 20 transplants in a year in Saudi Arabia,” said Dr. Bilal Al-Jiffry, a consultant of hepatobiliary and liver transplants at KAMC.
