Tribune News Network
Doha
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) inaugurated the Doha International Centre for Strategy and Leadership in Transplantation during a special ceremony at the Westin Hotel. The event was attended by several administrative and medical leaders from the Ministry of Public Health and HMC, as well as 139 organ donors and recipients, including 18 families of deceased donors, who were honoured for their selfless contributions to organ donation.
Also present were members of the Advisory Panel for the Doha International Centre for Strategy and Leadership in Transplantation.
HMC’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Abdulla Al Ansari said Qatar’s organ donation and transplantation programmes have changed the lives of thousands since it was established.
"We are proud to be adding another milestone to our programmes – we are establishing the Doha International Centre for Strategy and Leadership in Transplantation,” Dr Al Ansari said.
"Through this body we will be supporting the development of transplant programmes globally – sharing our knowledge and our experience in Qatar with other countries. The centre is guided by our own unwavering principles of equity and fairness. An eminent international advisory board of experts has also been engaged to support its work.”
HMCs Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Affairs and Director of Qatar Centre for Organ Transplantation Dr Yousef Al Maslamani said Qatar’s Organ Transplant Programme offers kidney, liver and lung transplant surgeries.
"HMC is one of the most comprehensive transplant centres in the region and Qatar is recognised as a regional leader in both organ donation and transplantation. Respect for human rights, autonomy and equity made Qatar a model of ethical and best clinical practice that is much-admired by the international transplant community,”Dr Al Maslamani said.
Dr Riadh Fadhil, director of the Qatar Organ Donation Centre and Transplantation Society Councillor for the Middle East, West, and Central Asia, stated that the Doha International Centre for Strategy and Leadership in Transplantation aims to develop an action plan to address global challenges through collaborative efforts with the World Health Organization and key international stakeholders.
"The centre aligns with the Qatar National Vision 2030 - Social Development pillar that advocates development of a just and caring society based on high moral standards,” Dr Riadh said.
At the ceremony the Medal of Altruism was presented to living donors and the families of deceased donors. The event also saw acknowledgement of Qatari kidney transplant recipients who chose to have their transplant surgery in Qatar rather than going abroad for treatment.
In 2024, approximately one-quarter of Qatar’s adult population, representing 131 nationalities, are registered as organ donors. Qatar has a single organ transplant waiting list, ensuring fair access to transplant services for individuals of all nationalities.
An organ transplant can be a life-saving procedure. It can also significantly improve the quality of life for someone with chronic organ failure. A deceased organ donor can save up to eight lives. It is also possible to donate a kidney or part of the liver while alive.