June 08, 2016
Advice to boost Maori organ donation sought
Tailoring messages specifically for Maori and other groups is one of the proposals to be considered in a new approach to organ donation now out for consultation.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says while New Zealand has many of the elements of an effective organ donation and transplantation service, it can do better, especially when it comes to increasing donation rates.
The consultation document sets out a number of changes which could increase deceased organ donation rate including raising awareness, standardising the way hospitals identify potential donors and how donation is discussed with families.
Demand for transplants in New Zealand, particularly kidneys, continues to rise while our rate of deceased organ donation remains comparatively low at 11.8 donors per million population in 2015.
The number of Maori deceased organ donors is low, but the need is high, especially as Maori and Pacific peoples are over-represented among those needing dialysis for kidney failure.
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