In a move to raise awareness about the critical role of organ donation in saving lives, the Ministry of Health, through the Omani Center for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, marked today (Thursday) the Omani Organ Donation Day. The annual observance, held every December 19, emphasizes the values of generosity and solidarity while promoting the importance of organ donation in Omani society.

The event, held at the Hormuz Grand Hotel, was under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Saeed bin Harib Al-Lamki, MOH’s Undersecretary for Health Affairs, and attended by senior ministry officials and representatives from various health institutions across the Sultanate of Oman.

During the event, Dr. Qasim Al-Jahdhami, Head of Organ Donation Program, highlighted the program’s achievements. He reported that the program received over (153) notifications of suspected brain-dead cases from across Oman, resulting in (7) approvals for organ donation. These approvals led to three organ donation operations from brain-dead individuals, resulting in the transplantation of 8 organs, including kidneys and livers, for patients who did not have living donors. Among these, the first heart transplant operation in Oman was also carried out.

In 2025, a total of (15) liver transplants were performed (14 from living donors and one from a deceased donor), while (35) kidney transplants were completed. Moreover, the cornea transplant program continued to grow, with (107) corneal transplants carried out this year, alongside expanded services across multiple hospitals in the Sultanate.

Additionally, the event featured a lecture by the Medical Director of the Spanish National Transplant Organization, who shared international best practices and discussed the medical and economic impact of organ transplantation programs.

Dr. Ali Al-Jahdhami delivered a lecture on “The Virtue of Organ Donation in Islam,” exploring the religious and humanitarian aspects of this noble act.

Several organ recipients also shared their experiences and struggles with illness, highlighting the transformative impact of organ donation.

The celebration is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to develop organ donation services and enhance public awareness about registering as a donor—either during life or via “Shifa” app for posthumous donation—thereby providing hope and new life to patients awaiting transplants.