In a significant move to enhance organ donation efforts, the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) formalized their collaboration on November 25, 2024, through a memorandum of agreement. This partnership is set to increase awareness and streamline the process of organ and tissue donation from deceased individuals in Davao City and throughout Mindanao.
Dr. Ma. Theresa Bad-ang, a nephrologist and head of SPMC’s Human Advocate and Retrieval Effort (SHARE), emphasized the importance of this initiative. She stated that the collaboration would improve patient management and increase the number of lives saved through the donation of vital organs and tissues. The agreement facilitates the sharing of resources, expertise, and best practices between the two hospitals, enhancing their ability to identify, retrieve, and manage organ and tissue donations efficiently.
Both SPMC and DDH are committed to maintaining high ethical standards, adhering to legal requirements, and following medical protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of both donors and recipients. This initiative is particularly timely given the increasing demand for organ donors, driven by the growing number of dialysis patients in the Philippines. In 2022, the Department of Health reported approximately 90,000 Filipinos on dialysis, with around 2,400 in the Davao region alone, experiencing an annual increase of 12 to 15 percent.
This partnership not only addresses the urgent need for organ donors but also aims to improve patient outcomes through organ transplantation, marking a significant step forward in healthcare in the region.