In the light of a recent incident in a posh housing society where doctors were carrying out a kidney transplant, illegally, Professor Dr Saeed Akhtar, President and CEO PKLI and Transplantation Society of Pakistan held a press conference to condemn the atrocious practice of illegal organ transplantation. He said that had it not been for the Punjab government’s efficient action, this incident would have gone unnoticed. Dr Saeed Akhtar said that those involved in this heinous crime are a stigma to the medical professional.
Dr Saeed Akhtar further elaborated the importance of setting up a centralized system in Pakistan that would ensure a legalized organ donation and transplantation system. He said that Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre (PKLI) is willing to work on the matter diligently in collaboration with the Punjab government to establish such a system. He added that such systems have been set up in Islamic countries, such as, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria and UAE, ultimately making organ donation rates high in these countries; Pakistan, however, does not appear on the list. He said that the public is accustomed to the idea of donating blood, however, donation of organs after death remains a taboo. Lack of awareness and knowledge of Islamic teachings regarding organ donation after death remain the main reasons behind low organ donation in the country.
Dr Saeed Akhtar further said that passing of the “Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 2010” has resulted in a decrease in organ trafficking incidents; however, organ donation after death still remains in low figures. He added that health-care professionals and religious scholars must enlighten the public about the importance of organ donations after death.
Dr Saeed Akhtar said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is taking a keen interest in completing the project at the earliest. He said that PKLI’s first-phase construction would be complete by the end of this year. He said “Insha Allah” the first transplantation operation would be carried out in December 2017 at PKLI. This institute, he added, would have state of the art technology that will used in the legalised organ transplant.