+ A
A -
Tribune News Network
Doha
PROF Riadh Abdul Sattar Fadhil, director of the Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), has been named a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory expert in the field of organ donation and transplantation.
Prof Fadhil has been appointed to the newly formed WHO Taskforce on Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues. The taskforce comprises experts from around the globe with specialisations in medicine, surgery, ethics, law, patients' rights, public administration and health systems.
"As a result of our culture of respect for human dignity, autonomy and equity, and well-structured and resourced public education, organ donation and transplantation programs are accessible to all nationalities in Qatar. There have been significant changes in the mindset of Qatar's multicultural society, as demonstrated by strong participation in the organ donor registry and in the deceased and living donation and transplantation programs," said Prof Fadhil.
According to Prof Fadhil, since the Qatar Organ Donor Registry was launched in 2012, around 300,000 donors, or 15 percent of the country's adult population, have registered as organ donors.
"Trust in the system is now well established and 2017 was the best year ever since the launch of the transplant program in 1986. Last year, 47 patients received 12 livers and 35 kidneys from ethically approved living and deceased donors, compared to 2008 when only two transplants were done. This explains why Qatar has become a model for other countries to emulate, thanks to the support of our wise leaders and HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health," said Prof Fadhil.
The WHO has identified organ donation as one of its priorities and Prof Fadhil joins other eminent experts advising it on policy and strategy.
"It is a great honour to be chosen as a member of this taskforce. We have a lot of experience and knowledge to share with other countries," Prof Fadhil added.
The most recent data from the WHO Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT) shows that more than 130,000 solid organ transplants are performed worldwide each year, and although impressive, it is estimated that this number represents less than 10 percent of the global need.
Fadhil is a professor of Urology and Transplant Surgery. He joined HMC as a senior consultant surgeon in 2004 and is currently director of the Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) and the Doha International Academy for Organ Donation. In addition to his recent affiliation to the WHO, Prof Fadhil also works internationally with the Transplantation Society Ethics Committee and the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group Board of Councilors.
