HK, Mainland Should Share Donated Organs: Expert

A medical expert said on Monday that a four-month-old baby's recent transplant with a heart from a donor on the mainland provides a good opportunity for authorities to set up a mechanism for the sharing of organs between the mainland and Hong Kong.

Albert Chan, clinical professor at the department of surgery at the University of Hong Kong, made the comment just days after the Children’s Hospital received a heart from a child who died in an accident on the mainland, and transplanted the organ into baby girl Tsz-hei who had been critically ill with dilated cardiomyopathy.

On an RTHK programme, Chan said on average each year, fewer than five people in a million in Hong Kong donate an organ, and it’s very difficult to find a heart to fit an infant.

He said this was Hong Kong's first ever organ donation from the mainland.

“Of course it was done under exceptional circumstances, but it also provides a good opportunity… Hong Kong’s organ donation rate is very low. If the SAR government can follow up on this matter, and set up a clear and transparent mechanism so more organs donated from the mainland could help people in Hong Kong, it’d be very encouraging news,” he said.

Chan said having a standardised set of rules could also make sure the organs came from donations, rather than illegal trading.

“In the past, one of the worries involving organ transplant was whether there was buying and selling of organs. But the country has been improving the system and there are stringent laws in place,” he said.

“I believe the Health Bureau has now also established a clear channel with the National Health Commission to ensure where organs come from. And as long as we are informed of the cause of death of the donors, and the organs are donated, I think we can iron out other details for such arrangements,” he said.

Speaking on the same programme, Tim Pang from the Society for Community Organisation, said any such mechanism should meet the laws and medical standards on both sides of the border.

The honorary chairwoman of the Hong Kong Transplant Sports Association, Chau Ka-foon, meanwhile, said she believes trust between the two sides would grow over time along with better communication.