Agency for Boosting Organ Donor Numbers
The Government is to set up a national agency, "Organ Donation NZ", to try to lift the number of organs being donated for transplant operations. This is because NZ has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world. The new agency will start in the next financial year and will be responsible for educating health professionals about organ donation and for co-ordinating the donation process. It will also work with health professionals, particularly in the intensive care setting, on developing greater understanding of issues.
However, a national register of organ donors is not on the cards yet, with the Government saying more investigation is needed. The Government, though, does give its in-principle support for developing a system to encourage active discussion about organ and tissue donation within families (although it also thinks such initiatives should be considered by the national organ donation agency).
The Government also supports, in principle, an ongoing national public awareness campaign, which should be undertaken following the establishment of the national organ donation agency. It also supports the development of nationally consistent protocols for the consent process for organ donations, particularly within families.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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