Need to raise awareness about organ transplant

Dr. Nasser Al-Masri, a consultant at the Riyadh Military Hospital, said: "There is an acute shortage of donated organs including liver in the Kingdom." He was speaking at a symposium organized by the Pakistan Doctors Group (PDG) here Friday night. The symposium was chaired by Pakistani Ambassador Umar Khan Alisherzai, while Brig. Gen. Mulfi Al-Otaibi of the Ministry of Defense and Aviation, was the chief guest.
Dr. Riaz J. Khawaja, PDG vice president, called on Saudi and Pakistani doctors to work closely and join the PDG. Dr. Irfan Maghfoor, a consultant oncologist at the Riyadh-based King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, presented a paper on cancer, while Dr. Amer Sheikh, PDG general secretary, presented the group's annual report.
Speaking on this occasion, Al-Otaibi said: “We are proud to see high-quality performance of the Pakistani doctors.”
In his speech, Ambassador Alisherzai reminded the audience about progressively growing relation between Riyadh and Islamabad in the health care sector. The envoy said that the Kingdom had announced plans to recruit some 3,000 doctors from Pakistan. About 1,000 highly qualified Pakistani male and female doctors including specialists and consultants have already been recruited for employment the Kingdom.
In his presentation, Al-Masri further explained that Jazan province was noted for a high prevalence of hepatitis B.  On the question of transplant facilities, he pointed out all the four world-class liver transplant facilities of the Kingdom performed about 100 transplants in 2009.
"But, obtaining liver for a transplant, especially from a deceased donor, is difficult in Saudi Arabia due to cultural issues," he added. He called to generate more awareness about organ donation in Islamic countries. Al-Masri pointed out that the transplant here costs SR600,000 compared to more than a million riyals in Europe and the United States.