Haad clarifies its policy on overseas treatment for transplant patients

ABU DHABI // Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (Haad), the government body in charge of sending UAE citizens abroad for medical treatment, stressed that under no circumstances does it send transplant patients for treatment without an accompanying donor.

Haad said only four patients were sent abroad in the past year and only because their conditions were complex. These patients were accompanied by their related donors, otherwise it would not have been possible.

Prerequisites, according to Haad, include availability of a living related donor.

“The medical board will not approve straightforward cases unless the case is associated with high complexities and co-morbidities.”

The World Health Organisation said it had not received any reports suggesting that the UAE was involved in the illegal organ trade.

Dr Jose R Nunez, medical officer for transplantation, service delivery and safety at the WHO, said each country had its own policies, with some allowing non-related donors. He emphasised that buying organs was illegal throughout the world, whether in a patient’s home country or abroad. He said the WHO had set policies to prevent such practices.

“This has been made illegal to prevent the poor from being exploited by richer people who need a transplant.”

Haad said UAE transplant patients were sent to South Korea where an agreement was in place where only patients accompanied by donors were accepted.

A medical board and transplant team must first evaluate the patient and donor before they are sent abroad.

“The medical committee will review the case of each patient and give the right recommendations based on evidence of supporting documents and medical reports,” Haad said.

Dr Nunez stressed that the WHO had no jurisdiction to punish people or countries that took part in illegal organ trading, but the practice was heavily condemned. “We are not regulators,” he said.

The WHO helps countries to regulate and stop the practice of illegal organ trading.

“We have been working together with China to prevent such a practice, especially since previously the kidneys came from executed prisoners.”