Santiago. – The hospital coordinator of transplants in region II of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Juana Sarita, rejected that in the Dominican Republic the recent disappearances of minors are associated with alleged organ trafficking networks, assuring that a transplant is a highly complex procedure that can only be performed within duly authorized health centers and with the participation of a large medical team.
The specialist warned that linking both issues, in addition to lacking technical support, generates social alarm and puts at risk the lives of hundreds of patients waiting for an organ to survive. “It is regrettable the disappearance of minors and some adults, but associating these cases with organ transplants creates myths that directly affect those who are on the waiting list,” she affirmed.
Sarita, who is also an internist and intensivist, explained that the country has a National Transplant Program supported by Law 329-98, implemented by the Ministry of Public Health through the National Transplant Coordination Institution, which regulates the process in all public and private centers.
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He maintained that it is impossible to perform an organ extraction without mobilizing an entire hospital, from security and admissions staff to laboratories, X-rays, nursing, operating rooms, and specialized transplant teams, in addition to the recipient’s subsequent medical follow-up.
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As an example, he indicated that a kidney loses viability for transplant after 24 hours and that, before any procedure, exhaustive compatibility studies are required to avoid organ rejection and complications that may endanger the patient’s life.
The doctor reported that currently about 509 people are on the waiting list for transplants in the country, with the kidney being the most demanded organ, with a coverage that does not exceed 30% of the needs.
Likewise, it was pointed out that the organ donation culture in the Dominican Republic remains limited, affected by myths and misinformation. “Barely 10 to 15% of the real demand for transplants is covered, which shows the need for more education and awareness,” he pointed out.
