The Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Health has recommended a comprehensive overhaul of Malaysia’s organ donation and transplant system, including the introduction of a new law to replace the Human Tissues Act 1974 and the strengthening of the National Transplant Resource Centre (NTRC).
Tabling the committee’s report in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, chairman Suhaizan Kaiat said the recommendations followed a comprehensive review of governance, implementation, specialist development, funding, infrastructure and public awareness surrounding organ donation.
He said piecemeal improvements were no longer sufficient, with Malaysia requiring a comprehensive reform to ensure the national transplant system could meet current needs and future challenges.
Among the key proposals is a new Act recognising brain death and donation after circulatory death, introducing the concept of national organ ownership and strengthening oversight of overseas transplant activities.
The committee also proposed enhancing the NTRC’s role as the national coordinator for policies, clinical standards, training and transplant data management, including establishing a real-time organ allocation and monitoring system to improve transparency.
They further recommended that the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance establish a dedicated organ donation fund to help lower-income patients cover long-term immunosuppressive medication, follow-up treatment and surgeries at private hospitals when necessary.
Other proposals include integrating organ donor registration with MySejahtera, driving licences and identity cards, as well as expanding transplant centres nationwide and strengthening specialist training.
As of June 30, Malaysia had performed 3,657 organ transplant procedures, while 10,170 patients remained on the waiting list for organs from deceased donors. The committee also revealed that more than 1,100 potential organ donations failed to proceed because family consent was not obtained.
