INSTEAD of addressing the fiasco dragging public healthcare system, the National Kidney Transplant Institute hinted at the lack of donors as the major concern for which the illegal organ trade has become a lucrative business.
In a statement following the arrest of suspects involved in kidney organ trafficking, Dr. Concessa C. Casasola, NKTI acting deputy director for Education Training and Research Services, identified two reasons why organ trafficking persists – poverty and absence of donors.
Casasola then appealed to the public to seriously consider becoming a donor.
“I think, ang number one is, nangyayari ito kasi kulang tayo ng organs. Sabi nga, don’t bring your organs to your grave. Isipin mo, nine na tao ang matutulungan pag naging organ donor ka. I think that’s the best legacy. So help us promote organ donation,” said Casasola.
The NKTI deputy director cited the urgent need to educate the public, adding that having a few donors makes the process of kidney transplant take longer.
Citing NKTI data, Casasola said there are about 100 organ recipients on the list under the Human Organ Preservation Effort (HOPE).
“Dahil nga kokonti, mahaba ang listahan. Pero kung dadami ang organ donors natin, marami din pong mata-transplant,” she said.
Patients suffering from kidney ailment usually take two to six years before finding a kidney donor. Interestingly, kidney transplant operations usually cost P1.2 million – half of which is being shouldered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
After the operation, a patient spends an average of P30,000 a month to cover medical check-ups and maintenance.
As this developed, NKTI Deputy Executive Director for Nursing Services Dr. Nerissa Gerial called on the public to sign up and become an organ donor.
“Carry the organ donor card, nasa likod ng driver’s license, in case anything happens to you, i-donate na natin ang organs natin so those with kidney, heart, lung failure, they can have a new life. Carry the organ donor card, and tell your family that you want to donate your organs,” said Gerial. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
