Medical
Director of Kidney Health Australia, Dr Tim Mathew said the increase
of 31% of organ donors on last year was a major tribute to the
medical teams and ancillary staff involved in organ donation
transplantation which has resulted in donation rate of 12.1 per
million of population. This is the highest number since
transplantation in the 1960s.
Dr Mathew said the more people who donate their kidneys the
shorter the waiting time will be for the 1298 people currently
waiting for a kidney transplant
"Kidneys account for 48% of all organ transplants in Australia.
"The wait for a kidney transplant on average is four to five
years.
"There is no cure for kidney disease with dialysis and transplant
the only options once the patient's kidneys fail.
"Chronic Kidney Disease is a disease which not only impacts on
older patients. In 2005 33% of all new patients suffering kidney
failure were under the age of 55.
"At present there are approximately 8500 Australians being kept
alive by dialysis, costing $83,000 each annually, with the dialysis
bill growing at $1 million a week," Dr Mathew said.
Media Enquiries:
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director Kidney
Health Australia Mobile: 0416 149 863
Ron Smith National
Media Communications Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0417 329
201
