Appeal Message from the Hong Kong Medical Association

Around 2,000 patients are lining up for organ transplant. As a doctor, we cannot understand more on the need and desperate need of our patients for a compatible organ. However, in the haze of a certain belief, the organ supply lags far behind its demand. It is very sad but common to see many of them died in the prime of life, before seeing a match.

To this end, the Hong Kong Medical Association has proactively started to promote organ donation. As a pioneer in the territory, we have launched an electronic organ donation platform as early as in 1994. We converted all forms collected to images and have them stored in our encrypted database. That not only allows the medical personnel to do real-time matching without requiring the donor to bring the donation card with them at all times, but bridges the gap between the transplant coordinator and the family of the deceased. To minimize miscommunications, please do make known of your will to your family and friends as soon as you have submitted your registration.

We are very glad to hear that the Department of Health is taking over the database management from 2008. The Department has set up a "Centralised Organ Donation Register" to manage the personal data of all donors and consolidate the resources for promotional campaigns. Please hold an open attitude to the organ donation, and share love and bring hopes to the sufferers and their families.

Hong Kong Medical Association