The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) hosted in Abu Dhabi the coordination meeting of the Supreme Committee for Organ Transplantation. The meeting was headed by H.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing of the Ministry of Health & Prevention, with the participation of Dr. Ali Al Obaidili, Chairman of the National Organ Transplant Committee, representatives of all members of government and local authorities in the country, College of Medicine and Health Sciences of United Arab Emirates University, Dubai Health Authority “DHA”, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Cleveland Clinic, SEHA, Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), and both of Abu Dhabi Health Authority and Dubai Health Authority.
A Sustainable Solution for Patients
Dr. Al Amiri shed the light on the qualitative and moral addition achieved by the country in the transplantation of human organs and tissues, in pursuance of Federal Law No. 5 of 2016 allowing transplantation of human organs and tissues which was issued by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to keep pace with the latest international health standards in order to achieve the ambitions of UAE to become a role model at the regional and global levels.
He added that organ transplantation forms a sustainable solution for a large number of patients with, heart diseases, pulmonary failure, cirrhosis of the liver and renal failure.
“Hayat” App
Al Amiri underlined that “Hayat” App, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has kept pace with the latest global standards, thanks to the country’s wise leadership that is keen to provide a healthy life for citizens and residents alike, and to achieve the ambitions of UAE to become a role model at the regional and global levels.
He explained that Hayat App gives the chance for everyone willing to donate his organs after death to register his information. The app is also linked to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, which is the first phase of registering human organ donation in the UAE.
Dr. Amin Al Amiri, then, showcased the different stages of Hayat App in an open discussion with the participants to listen to their feedback, proposals and brainstorming ideas, with a view to facilitating the registration process by donors and patients. A proposal on adding the status “donor” in the Emirates ID was also discussed, in addition to reviewing statistics on the number of persons willing to donate their organs after death.
In turn, Dr. Ali Al Obaidili, Chairman of the National Organ Transplant Committee, underscored the importance of a strong culture of donation among citizens and residents, so as to achieve the sought-after objectives of the national programme and build an integrated partnership between public and private authorities.
He also stressed the necessity of coordination with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments in terms of raising the awareness and religious guidance for all community segments, whether through audio-visual media or in Friday sermons, about the legalization of removing the human organ after death, if the deceased was willing to donate his organs, or after the approval of his fourth-degree relatives.
“Also, this religious guidance should focus on encouraging the people to donate their organs as it contributes to save patients life Who are in need of organ transplantation pain as well as alleviating the burden on hospitals and reducing the financial costs on the country,” Al Obaidili added.