KUALA LUMPUR: The MySejahtera application will introduce a new feature on Tuesday allowing the public to register as organ donors.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Organ Donation Awareness Week here, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the feature will also provide updates on all matters related to organ donations.
Khairy said 10,442 people are now waiting for organ transplants in Malaysia.
He said that according to the National Transplant Resource Centre, there have been 517,758 registered organ donors since 1997.
However, as of July this year, only 779 were actual donors.
“Our organ donation numbers are very low,” he said.
Khairy added that Malaysia ranked 10th in the world for a low transplantation rate, with only 2.84 transplantations per 1000 of the population in 2021.
In 2020, the rate was 5.64 transplantations per 1000 of the population.
He expressed his appreciation to medical staff, NGOs and other relevant agencies for their involvement in the transplantation and donation process.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to the deceased organ donors and their families for their sacrifice in giving those in need a new lease on life,” he said.
Khairy urged the public to register as organ donors on MySejahtera.
“The pledge to donate your organs will be on the health ministry’s records and we will be able to show the next of kin of your decision in the event that something unfortunate happens,” he said.
He also urged the public to get a health screening to ensure they are healthy and eligible to donate their organs.
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