Manama: Plans for an innovative organ donation database have had to be put on hold after an expatriate association spearheading the initiative failed to get clearance from the authorities.

The Bahrain Foundation for Organ Relief project was first announced in 2013 by the Syro Malabar Society.

It aims to promote organ donation in Bahrain, with plans including the distribution of organ donor cards similar to those used in Western countries.

However, Syro Malabar Society core group committee member Sany Paul told the GDN that despite receiving backing from the Health Ministry, the project had failed to get off the ground.

“We started the project in 2013 to encourage organ donations and allow people in Bahrain to donate their organs after they die,” he said.

“Donated organs can be transplanted to living patients and help save many lives.”

A meeting with Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi in 2012 received a positive response, Mr Paul said, but clearance from the Social Development Ministry has not been
forthcoming.

“For almost two years now we have been following up the matter with the Social Development Ministry because we are a registered association under them,” he said.

“All we need is a clearance from them to start the organ donation project in Bahrain.”

Mr Paul said that a Cabinet reshuffle last year, when former Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi was replaced by Faeqa Al Saleh, further hampered progress. 

“Because of the change in ministers we have faced more delays and had to once again raise the issue,” he said.

“But this is a noble movement that was even backed by the Health Minister, to help create a database in Bahrain of potential organ donors.”

The society official urged authorities to approve the project as they had been “overwhelmed” by the number of potential donors in Bahrain wanting to sign up.

In 2011, the Health Ministry announced a partnership with the Saudi Organ Transplant Centre for a proposed GCC organ donation programme, that would financially reward the relatives of donors.

At the time, a Bahraini medical team met their Saudi counterparts to discuss helping patients suffering from kidney failure, however the programme is not believed to have got past the planning stages.

Organ donation is widely practised in Europe and the US, with donors consenting to their organs being used after their death.

There are conflicting opinions among Islamic scholars over the issue of organ donation and whether it is permissible for Muslims to donate their organs.

This has hindered attempts to roll out past organ transplant programmes and some patients have resorted to travelling abroad for surgery, which can often lead to complications as the GDN reported last month.

sandy@gdn.com.bh