IMPROVING THE PHILIPPINE ORGAN DONATION SYSTEM

IMPROVING THE PHILIPPINE ORGAN DONATION SYSTEM

The Philippines has a legal framework in place to manage its organ donation system, but several key issues need to be addressed to make the process more efficient, transparent, and accessible to those in need. While the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PHILNOS) plays a vital role in coordinating organ transplants, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the process, logistics, and overall system effectiveness.

The Role of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)

One important aspect of the current system is the mandate requiring the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to include an organ donor form at the back of driver’s licenses. This allows drivers to indicate their willingness to donate organs in the event of their death. However, does the LTO maintain a database of prospective organ donors? If so, how is this database accessed in real-time by hospitals that need to locate suitable organ donors immediately after death?

Organ Availability and Hospital Notification

A major concern is whether there is a system in place to promptly notify hospitals about the availability of organs that can be harvested. Time is a critical factor in organ transplantation, and a delay in notification could mean the loss of viable organs. How are the organs harvested? Are they removed in hospital operating rooms or specialized facilities?

Identifying Recipients and Selection Protocol

Another critical question is how organ recipients are identified and located. What is the process for choosing the beneficiary or donee? Is there a national waitlist that prioritizes patients based on urgency, compatibility, and fairness? Are hospitals required to have ethics committees to oversee the selection process and ensure transparency?

Logistics of Organ Transport

Once an organ is ready for transplantation, how is it transported between hospitals? Is there a dedicated transport system for human organs? Who pays for the costs associated with transporting organs? Are medical evacuation (med evac) airplanes or helicopters available for long-distance transfers? Additionally, does PhilHealth provide coverage for organ acquisition and transport costs?

The Role of PHILNOS and Data Security

PHILNOS maintains the organ donation database, but how is it managed and funded? Is it fully secure, and who has authorized access? Are there data recovery and mirror sites in case of a system failure? Furthermore, who serves as the database administrator, and what improvements are needed to enhance the security and efficiency of PHILNOS?

Expanding Organ Donor Registration

Currently, driver’s licenses are used to indicate organ donor status, but should we expand this initiative to include other forms of government-issued identification, such as passports, Social Security System (SSS) IDs, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) IDs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) IDs, and PhilHealth cards? A broader reach could significantly increase the number of registered donors.

Best Practices from Other Countries

Many countries have adopted best practices to enhance their organ donation systems. For example, some nations have an opt-out system where all citizens are presumed to be organ donors unless they explicitly state otherwise. Others have centralized databases that integrate seamlessly with hospitals and emergency services. What lessons can the Philippines learn from these successful models?

Addressing On-Site Deaths and Organ Recovery

What happens in cases where individuals die on-site in accidents or other emergencies? Are authorities required to bring bodies to hospitals before organs can be harvested? If the deceased is taken directly to a morgue or funeral parlor, how will the organs be retrieved? There needs to be a clear protocol for handling such situations to ensure that viable organs are not lost due to procedural gaps.

Conflict of Interest Concerns

PHILNOS is hosted by the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI). Does this create a potential conflict of interest in organ allocation? Does NKTI get preference over other hospitals? The transparency of PHILNOS operations should be ensured so that no institution gains an unfair advantage in organ transplantation.

Funding and Sustainability

Where does PHILNOS get its funding? Does it receive an allocation from the Department of Health (DOH) or directly from NKTI? Is there a sustainable budget for its long-term operations? Understanding the financial structure of PHILNOS will help determine whether additional funding or support is required.

Moving Forward

The Philippines must take proactive steps to strengthen its organ donation system. Some immediate actions could include:

• Enhancing the PHILNOS database for real-time matching and notifications.
• Expanding donor registration through various government-issued IDs.
• Improving logistics for organ transport and ensuring funding support.
• Establishing clearer protocols for organ retrieval from on-site deaths.
• Studying best practices from other countries and implementing feasible solutions.
• Addressing ethical concerns in organ allocation to ensure fairness and transparency.

Organ donation saves lives, and a more efficient system will ensure that no viable organ goes to waste. By addressing these pressing questions and gaps in the current system, the Philippines can significantly improve its organ donation and transplantation framework, ultimately giving more patients a second chance at life.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

03-22-2025