Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur Joins IMU and NTRC for an Organ Donation Campaign

Kuala Lumpur, 14 July 2015 – Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL), in celebrating the spirit of Ramadan, launches an Organ Donation Campaign for encouraging Malaysians to contribute to the noble cause of saving lives. Initiated together with International Medical University (IMU) and Pusat Sumber Organ Transplan Nasional (NTRC), the campaign will appeal for donors. The key objectives include raising awareness on organ and tissue donation in the country. 

One deceased donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and can save or improve more than 50-100 lives through tissue donation. But, Malaysia has one of the lowest cadaveric organ donation rates in the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT). 

“Over the last two decades in Malaysia, the number of patients with end-stage failure (and deaths) have tripled, which could have been saved with organ transplantation. Currently there are 19,500 patients on waiting list for organ transplant and to date, only less than 1% of Malaysians have pledged their organs and tissues”, shared Prof Ong Kok Hai, Director, External Affairs, IMU.

Malaysia’s donation rates remain low at less than 2 donors per million population (pmp) compared to countries such as Singapore (6mp), Saudi Arabia (4.2 pmp), Australia (12.1 pmp) and Spain (34.1pmp).

“In keeping with our brand ethos, Caring from the Heart, we appeal to Malaysians to care and ‘Pledge’ their organs, joining us to save hundreds of lives. We are also grateful to IMU, with whom we have woven a close partnership in advocating the cause. Together, during the campaign period, we will endeavour to equip families (of the deceased and those interested to pledge) with information essential to lead a healthy life before donation”, said Anwar Anis, Chief Executive Officer, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

With the campaign slogan – Part of You; All of Me - also aims to drive home the message that a single individual donor can save more than one life. “I was so proud and happy that the organs of my daughter Esther Lim Joy-Ern, who passed away due to brain tumor at the age of 2 years and 9 months, helped save lives of 3 organ recipients. It is a very noble cause and everyone must consider this option, which is next to godliness”, shared Madam Claire George Lim, mother of an Organ Donor.

ABOUT PANTAI HOSPITAL KUALA LUMPUR

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) has a proud history of serving the Malaysian public for over 40 years. Established in 1974, PHKL initially had 68 beds and 20 medical specialists. Today the hospital operates almost 300 beds, with a capacity of 332 beds and has more than 170 consultants specializing in various medical and surgical disciplines. PHKL is steadfast in the delivery of affordable services that are technologically appropriate, with emphasis on quality, innovation and health promotion.

The hospital has structured its services to empower and enable the people to maintain the highest possible state of health and well-being through its sophisticated centres of excellence. As a forerunner in the healthcare industry, PHKL strongly supports the government's initiative to boost health tourism. PHKL is aggressively promoting its medical packages, services and facilities abroad and has received medical tourists from around globe, with a significant number coming from South East Asian nations and the Middle East.

For more information on Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, visit: www.pantai.com.my