The HKMA organ donation registry

To circumvent this problem, the Hong Kong Medical Association set up a computer based central organ donation registry and the Organ Donation Register Fund Ltd in 1994. All willing organ donors were asked to discuss with their next of kin before signing and returning the organ donation forms. All returned and completed organ donation forms were scanned and the image stored in a central database, which facilitate authorized persons of the transplant team to go online and match a potential donor at any time.

This system can increase the communication between the transplant coordinator and the relatives. There is no need for donors carry organ donation cards. The registry will store all donation forms of transplant campaigns organized by other institutions/societies and will act as a barometer of organ donation awareness. Up to end of 2007, there were over 44,290 forms in our registry.

Over the years, the need for organ transplantation is ever rising. It is deem necessary to pool all possible efforts to promote organ donation and to better manage willing donors' information. In this connection, the three parties: the Hong Kong Medical Association, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority joined hands and discussed the motion of the HKSAR Government taking over and managing the central database. With months of co-ordination and liaison, the Department of Health will set up a Centralised Organ Donation Register in the fall of 2008 to manage donors' personal data and their declared wish.

Willing donors may submit information by facsimile, post or online for safe keeping when the Register becomes operational.