Organ Donation Agency Welcomed
NewstalkZB

A campaigner for organ donors is pleased the Government is setting up a national organ donation agency.

The Government is more than doubling the funding for an organ-donation agency to $700,000 a year from July.

The agency will be based at Auckland City Hospital and will involve the training of more intensive-care unit staff. At a later stage, a public-awareness campaign will be launched.

Health Minister Annette King says the select committee has also recommended setting up a national organ donor registry to replace the current driver licensing system, but the Government wants more examination of the effectiveness, cost and other details of such a register first.

"There are a number of significant problems associated with donor registries, including cost, likely uptake, and ethical problems. There is also little international evidence that registers increase the number of organ donors."

Campaigner Andy Tookey says that while he applauds the initiative, it appears the donation agency is still several years off.

He says it will be a few years before there is any progress and that will not help all the people waiting for transplants.

Mr Tookey is disappointed the publicity campaign will not be up-and-running sooner.