"About 2,500 Malaysians Detected with Liver Disease Every Year"

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) -- About 2,000 to 2,500 Malaysians are detected with chronic liver disease each year. Given the low donor rate of 0.6 per cent per million population, it is very unlikely for many of them to be able to get a liver transplant. The Health Ministry's head of National Surgical Service, Dr Harjit Singh said this was due to the high cost involved, as well as the lack of infrastructure and shortage of specialists and organ donors. The cost of a liver transplant could range from RM350,000 (US$109,610.56) to RM1 million (US$313,173.02) if done in a private hospital in the country or overseas. "It is because of the high cost, many liver patients cannot afford the organ transplant," he told reporters after the presentation of Maybank Foundation's contribution to the Selayang Hospital's liver transplant trust fund, here on Tuesday. Maybank chairman Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor presented the contribution of RM162,000 (US$50,735.60) to the trust fund which was received by Selayang Hospital director Dr Siti Zaleha Mohd Salleh. Maybank had also contributed RM5 million (US$1.57 million) for, among others, the purchase of equipment for the liver transplant centre which was set up in April 2002 and aid for liver disease patients. -- BERNAMA