• 11/22/2017


    Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, this week attended an event to mark 30 years of safe and successful organ transplantation surgeries at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), as well as recognize the many pioneers who have contributed to making the program successful.

    The event was arranged to recognize and honor living organ donors and the families of deceased donors. It also acknowledged Qatari transplant recipients who chose to have their procedure in Qatar rather than go abroad, signaling a confidence in the high professionalism of the organ transplantation team operating at Hamad General Hospital.

    In 1986 a surgical team at HMC performed Qatar’s first kidney transplant on a Qatari woman who received a donor kidney from her sister.  Now, 30 years on, with a 98 percent success rate, HMC’s organ transplantation program is one of the most admired in the world.

    “The success of Qatar’s organ transplantation program is something which we can be extremely proud of. With fairness and equity at its heart, our transplantation program has been recognized internationally,” Her Excellency said. “Qatar’s national strategy for organ transplantation is not only world-leading in terms of the clinical and ethical standards it applies but also one that is appropriate to the healthcare needs of our growing country and our diverse population."

    Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation Director Dr. Yousuf Al Maslamani said HMC has decreased the number of patients who are traveling abroad for commercial transplantation by 70 percent.

    “Over the last three decades, HMC has developed a robust deceased organ donation program, liver transplantation program, and pediatric kidney transplantation program,” Dr. Al Maslamani said. “Last year saw the launch of our bone marrow transplantation program and currently we are at the final stage of preparation to launch pancreas transplantation and islet cell transplantation. The wider organ donation and transplantation program continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of our community and has been striving to fulfill its vision to provide the best quality care for all patients, irrespective of nationality, religion, or race.”

    During the event, which was held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Doha, the Medal of Altruism was presented to 38 living kidney donors, five living liver donors, three stem cell donors, and eight families of deceased donors. Pioneers of the organ transplantation program were also acknowledged, including Dr. Ajaeb Alnabit, Dr. Awadh Rashid, Dr. Abulwahid Al Mulla, Dr. Usama Badawi, Dr. Mohamed Salim, Dr. Fadhil Al Malik, Dr. Amer Shaikhoni, Ms. Mona Jarman, Ms. Elham Almoamin, and Ms. Sahar Burhan.

    Dr. Hassan Al Malki, Head of Nephrology at HMC also spoke about the program’s world-class standards of quality and safety. The audience heard from several people whose lives have been changed as a result of organ donation, including a Qatari recipient who urged those in need of a transplant to remain in Qatar because of the world-class facilities and transplant team.

    Qatar Organ Donation Center Director Dr. Riadh Fadhil said the Center has worked tirelessly with the Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation to implement the Doha Donation Accord.

    “HMC’s full commitment to the Doha Donation Accord has seen the number of registered donors increase significantly over the last five years from 2000 to more than 259,000,” Dr. Riadh said. “The greater number of organ donors has led to an increase in kidney transplant procedures, which in turn as enabled new procedures to be implemented. It has also led to a majority of our patients choosing to have their procedures done in Qatar rather than travel abroad.”