The newly established Committee on Promotion of Organ Donation met today to discuss strategies and directions for organ donation promotion.
Committee Chairperson, Under Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan, said: "The organ donation rate is much lower than the number of patients waiting for transplants. There were 129 cases of organ donation after death last year, but more than 2,400 patients were waiting for organ and tissue transplantation as at December 31.
"The Government has to strengthen promotional efforts on organ donation. On this front the committee has been established to further promote the relevant messages, including informing family and friends of one's wish to donate organs, helping persons in need, and encouraging registration at the Centralised Organ Donation Register.
"The committee will also co-ordinate and integrate relevant work by different Government departments and organisations to augment public education and publicity, so as to foster and fortify the culture of organ donation."
Committee members were briefed by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority on their organ donation promotion work, and gave views on the future education and promotion strategies.
They agreed it was necessary to formulate the strategies and directions for organ donation promotion as soon as possible, and anticipated that the first round of large scale promotional activities will be launched within the second and third quarter of this year.
