KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS PERFORMED OVERSEAS

Mr Ling How Doong asked the Minister for Health (a) how many persons have gone overseas for kidney transplants; (b) how many persons are on the waiting list for kidney transplants; (c) what is the waiting period for such transplants; and (d) how many of those persons who had gone overseas for kidney transplants contracted HIV or died.

Dr Aline Wong (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, between 1986 and 1993, a total of 172 patients went overseas for kidney transplants. The transplants were done mainly in India and China. About half of them acquired various types of infections following their transplants, of whom four persons contracted the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. So far, 11 have died and another 11 have lost their grafts after returning to Singapore.

As at January 1994, 429 patients are on the Transplant Register awaiting kidney transplants. Of these, 150 are new patients registered in 1993. The median waiting time for transplants is three years.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: Sir, for the patients who are on the waiting list, is there any priority given for non-medical reasons, for example, if the patient is the breadwinner of the family? Are there any such criteria?

Dr Aline Wong: There are some administrative criteria used. Being a main breadwinner of the family does give some consideration for priority.