New Zealand to pay compensation to live organ donors

January 28, 2005

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: New Zealanders who donate a kidney or part of a liver as a living organ donor are to be paid for lost income and childcare costs, the government said Friday.

Social Development Minister Steve Maharey said the payments were not a financial incentive for donors, but a contribution toward lost earnings and their sacrifice.

"People who donate a kidney or live tissue for transplantation in New Zealand may be eligible for support to help cover associated loss of income and childcare costs. This will include donors from overseas,'' Maharey said.

The tax-free support, equivalent to 165 New Zealand dollars (US$118; euro91) a week, would be available for 12 weeks after an operation.

New Zealand has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the developed world.

Since 1993 the nation's donor rate has fluctuated between 34 and 46 donors a year. About 350 people are on waiting lists for organ transplants, mostly kidneys. People can wait up to 30 months for an organ.

One of the nation's high-profile organ donor cases was given widespread publicity last year when famed former All Black rugby winger Jonah Lomu was gifted a kidney by a friend. Lomu has since announced his return to playing professional competitive rugby.

Health Minister Annette King hoped the payments would reduce financial barriers to donors. New Zealand Kidney Foundation spokeswoman Carmel Gregan-Ford welcomed the decision.

"I think it's great, we've been lobbying Government for quite a while,'' she said, adding "it's a start ... and will help eventually probably decrease some of the waiting time on dialysis.''--AP

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This article posted February 14, 2005.