Press Releases

Committee on Promotion of Organ Donation holds first meeting (with photos)

< Back

The Committee on Promotion of Organ Donation, newly established by the Government, held its first meeting today (April 26) to discuss the strategies and directions for organ donation promotion as well as programmes and activities to encourage and educate the public on organ donation.

The Chairperson of the Committee and the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said, "Over the years, the Government has been striving to promote organ donation. As people in society have become more open-minded, the concept of donating organs after death to benefit others has gradually become more acceptable. The number of people registered with the Centralised Organ Donation Register of the Department of Health (DH) has just surpassed the figure of 200 000, showing that many citizens support organ donation and are willing to help others. We highly appreciate the support from the community on organ donation.

"Hong Kong has also seen an overall increase in organ donation rate, which rose from about four donors per million population (pmp) in 2005 to about 6.1 pmp in 2013. This is higher than some of the other developed economies in Asia. However, the organ donation rate is much lower than the number of patients waiting for transplant. 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, 2015.

"Therefore, the Government has to strengthen the promotional efforts on organ donation. On this front, the Committee has been established to further promote the relevant messages, including informing family and friends on 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."

At the meeting, the Committee members were briefed by the DH and the Hospital Authority (HA) on their work on organ donation promotion. The members also gave views on the future education and promotion strategies. They agreed that it was necessary to formulate the strategies and directions for organ donation promotion as soon as possible and coordinate local promotional activities through liaising with the organisations interested in promoting organ donation in Hong Kong. Apart from enhancing the existing promotional work, it is anticipated that the first round of large scale promotional activities will be launched within the second and third quarter of 2016.

The Food and Health Bureau, the DH and the HA will thoroughly consider the recommendations proposed by the Committee at the meeting, as well as implement and strengthen the promotion of organ donation as soon as possible.

The Committee comprises members from relevant professional organisations and non-governmental organisations, as well as media partners. The membership list of the Committee is as follows:

Chairperson:
Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee (Under Secretary for Food and Health)

Members:
Dr Chak Wai-leung
Dr Chau Ka-foon
Ms Ken Cheng Yuk-kam
Mr Chua Hoi-wai
Ms Jenny Koo Wai-mun
Mr James Lam Yat-fung
Mr Paul Law Siu-hung
Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung
Mrs Gloria Ng Wong Yee-man
Dr Peter Pang
Ms Josephine Pang Tsui Mei-wan
Dr Louis Shih Tai-cho
Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang
Mr Joseph Tam Sik-yeung
Representatives from the Food and Health Bureau
Representative from the Department of Health
Representative from the Information Services Department
Representative from the Hospital Authority

Secretary:
Assistant Secretary for Food and Health (Health)

Ends/Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:43

NNNN

Photo1   Photo2

12 Apr 2019