DHA Announces Additional Standards for Organ and Tissue Donation & Transplantation

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

Dubai, UAE – The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has taken an important step in improving organ and tissue donation services. In partnership with the Donation and Transplantation Institute (DTI) Foundation from Spain and the UAE’s National Center of Organ Donation and Transplant, the DHA recently held a workshop to introduce new standards for organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

The workshop brought together hospitals, doctors, and other key professionals in the UAE’s healthcare sector. The goal was to discuss the new guidelines and ensure that donation and transplant services follow the highest ethical and medical standards. This move reflects DHA’s commitment to saving lives and improving healthcare services through innovation and ethical medical practices.

New DHA Standards for Organ and Tissue Donation

During the event, DHA introduced five important new standards:

Donation After Brain Death (DBD) – Version 2

This updated guideline focuses on ethical and safe organ donation from brain-dead donors. It ensures that medical teams follow strict safety rules and that transplant recipients receive the best care possible.

Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD) – Version 1

This new guideline allows organ donation after a person’s heart stops beating. By including this process, more organs can be available for patients in need.

Corneal Transplant Services

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These standards aim to improve corneal transplant procedures, ensuring better tissue quality and successful surgeries for patients with vision problems.

Tissue Management Standards

A complete guide for collecting, processing, and using donated tissues. It ensures safe and ethical practices in tissue transplantation.

Kidney Transplant Services – Version 2

The latest updates in kidney transplant guidelines focus on better matching between donors and recipients, along with improved care after the transplant.

Additional New Standards Developed with International Experts

In May 2024, DHA worked with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to create four additional guidelines to further improve transplant services:

Liver and Pancreas Transplant Services

Heart and Lung Transplant Services

Vascularised Composite Allograft (Limb) Transplant Services

Human Organ and Tissue Donation Services (Living Donor)

These new guidelines will help ensure that organ transplants in Dubai and the UAE meet the highest international standards.

Expert Insights on the New Guidelines

The workshop featured leading experts from the DTI Foundation who helped create these new standards. They shared their knowledge on improving donor registration, increasing transplant success rates, and raising public awareness about the life-saving impact of organ donation.

Dr. Hanan Obaid, Director of Health Policies and Standards at DHA, spoke about the importance of these updates. She said, “These new guidelines reflect our strong commitment to ensuring that organ and tissue donation services follow the highest ethical and medical standards. By improving these services, we can build trust, achieve better results, and most importantly, save more lives.”

She also emphasized that the continuous development of these guidelines is essential for creating a healthcare system that respects both donors and recipients while providing the best possible medical care.

Ayesha Al Falahi, Senior Consultant for Organ Donation and Transplantation at DHA, also shared her thoughts. She said, “By aligning our local standards with international best practices, we are making sure that the UAE remains a leader in healthcare innovation. Our focus is always on improving patient care and achieving excellence in the field of organ donation and transplantation.”

Dr. Chloë Ballesté Delpierre, Medical Director at DTI Foundation and a professor at the University of Barcelona, praised DHA’s efforts. She said, “The implementation of these new standards is a big step forward in the field of organ and tissue donation. We are proud to work with DHA and the National Center of Organ Donation and Transplant to improve healthcare services in Dubai. This collaboration highlights how important international partnerships are in saving lives.”

A Call for More Awareness and Support

The workshop ended with a strong message: more cooperation is needed between hospitals, government agencies, and the public to support organ donation programs. The DHA is committed to developing new strategies to make donation and transplantation services even better in the future.

By improving awareness and encouraging more people to register as donors, DHA aims to create a stronger, more efficient organ donation system that can save many lives across the UAE.

With these new standards in place, DHA continues to lead the way in healthcare innovation, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all.