AMA says politicians must lead the way on organ donations
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, today asked Federal politicians to show true leadership in the community by signing on as organ donors.
Dr Glasson said the example showed by politicians would encourage others to donate their organs and save lives.
"Australia has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world - just nine per million population in 2003," Dr Glasson said.
"It is worse when compared to the developed world. Spain has 33.7 and the United States has 21.5 per million population.
"In Australia, 107 patients died in 2002 while awaiting organ transplants.
"When you consider that just one donor can help up to 32 people, just think what can be achieved if every politician became a donor and encouraged their constituents to be donors.
"The challenge is also to win the support of family and loved ones to allow organ donations to proceed. There should be no compulsion, just education and respect for the donors' wishes.
"I think in Australia we have to think in terms of sporting competition to lead the world.
"So today I call on Australians to win the World Cup of organ donation, and it's up to our politicians to lead the way," Dr Glasson said.
Dr Glasson was addressing the annual AMA Parliamentary Breakfast at Parliament House in Canberra, attended by more than 70 MPs and Senators and the 32 AMA Federal Councillors.
"All health politics is local," Dr Glasson told the assembled politicians.
"Access and affordability are the key health issues you will confront in your electorates at the next election. There are not enough doctors, especially in regional and outer-urban Australia, and it is costing patients more to see a doctor when they can find one.
"You have to go to the electorate with workable easily-understood policies on Medicare, aged care and public hospitals to win votes. Your policies must work in practice, not just theory.
"Health will be the number one issue in voters' minds on election day," Dr Glasson said.
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Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306