12 patients, including 4 children, saved by organ transplants in Saudi Arabia

A coordinated effort by the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) has saved the lives of 12 patients, including four children. The center managed five organ retrieval procedures from brain-dead donors, with four of them completed within just 48 hours. The operations were carried out in cooperation with medical institutions inside and outside Saudi Arabia. The transplants included two hearts (one for a child), two livers (one for a child with liver failure), two lungs, and six kidneys. The kidney transplants ended the suffering of two children and four other patients who had been relying on dialysis. SCOT Director General Dr. Talal Al-Qoufi said the organs were allocated based on medical ethics and clinical priorities to ensure fair distribution. He praised the close coordination among healthcare authorities and thanked the Saudi Air Medical Evacuation Administration and medical teams involved. He also expressed gratitude to the donors' families for their generosity, giving new hope to others. The procedures involved hospitals in Saudi Arabia, like King Abdullah Hospital in Bisha, and the UAE's Hayat Organ Donation and Transplant Program under the Gulf Cooperation Council's organ-sharing program. Organ transplantation remains the only treatment for end-stage organ failure and helps reduce waiting lists. People in Saudi Arabia can register or withdraw from the national organ donation program through the Tawakkalna platform.