By Mohammad Dawood
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — The Saudi Center for Organ Transplant (SCOT) has set out a blueprint for all organ donations in the Kingdom, according to its director general.
Dr. Faisal Shaheen said the center’s comprehensive donation program has been a model for many other donation programs in the country.
“The program studies each patient in need of organ transplant and register him at the center through his civil record. The program then creates a waiting list and link it to a network of donors,” said Shaheen.
He added the program also takes a proactive role in raising awareness about organ donation.
“With an organized and efficient program, people in society are more likely to trust the center and are more likely to donate organs. An efficient program will also encourage patients to trust the center and its efforts to find donors,” said Shaheen.
He added the center makes sure that donated organs are transplanted in patients in a transparent manner.
“Patients can rely on the center and there is no need to travel abroad and get lured into a black market for organ donations. Seeking a donated organ through the center is the safest way to do so. Other means of seeking donors in the Kingdom or abroad may have many risks. There are chances of not following necessary health regulations to ensure the patient’s safety,” said Shaheen.
He said patients could be blackmailed or exploited if they tried to get donated organs from incredible sources.
“Patients could also contract a number of deadly diseases such as AIDS while receiving a donated organ without proper supervision. The national reform program supports the development and distribution of organ transplant centers. With time, we won’t be having a shortage in organ donors,” said Shaheen.
He also said the center is benchmarked against international organ transplantation centers and human rights to ensure it is among the best in the world.
“Transplants ensure patients’ survival more than prosthesis. Transplants are also a healthier option for the body and they are easier to maintain. Transplants cost the Ministry of Health much less than prosthetic organs,” said Shaheen.
