Chris Bishop
National List MP based in Hutt South

Media Statement

29 June 2017

Bishop welcomes new strategy to increase organ donation

Chris Bishop MP has welcomed the new national strategy to lift the rate of deceased organ donations.

Mr Bishop’s Compensation for Live Organ Donors Bill was passed unanimously by the Parliament at end of last year and the Act will come into force soon. The Act entitles live organ donors to compensation (at the rate of 100% of their lost earnings) when recuperating from organ donation.

“The Compensation for Live Organ Donors Act will make a substantive difference in lifting our organ donation rate, and therefore increase the number of people who can receive a transplant. I was very pleased to see that Budget 2017 committed $700,000 a year to help remove the financial deterrent to becoming a live organ donor.

“Our deceased organ donation rate has increased by 57 per cent in the past four years but our rates are relatively low compared with other countries. There’s more we can do and this new strategy outlines a range of very useful steps forward, including:

· Further increasing public awareness of organ donation;
· Making it easier for people to register, update and share their wish to donate with family and clinicians;
· Increasing the hospital-based capacity for deceased organ donation to take place;
· Empowering intensive care staff to discuss the organ donation process;
· Establishing a national agency to lead the implementation of the strategy, and have a clear mandate to increase our rates deceased organ donation and transplantation.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the new strategy roll out and our organ donation rate rise even further.”

ENDS

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