Health ministry plans to combat low donation rates
"Doctors say I can survive only after getting a bone marrow transplant. But what am I going to do, as potential donors refuse to give their bone marrow?"
The 47-year-old man, identified by the surname Jo, was diagnosed with acute leukemia in August. He tried to find a donor among his relatives, but there was no appropriate genetic match. Recently, he found 17 genetically-matched people who had already pledged to donate their bone marrow. However, when asked to do so, all 17 would-be donors balked, refusing to give their bone marrow due to apparent fears over pain or potential infection.
Jo is now trying to receive a bone marrow transplant from a donor in Taiwan or the United States.
As in Jo’s case, the proportion of those registered as donors who refuse to give their bone marrow stood at 60 percent.
An Gi-jong, an official at the Korean Association of Leukemia Patients, said, “If a patient is unable to find a donor [in Korea], the patient has no choice but to find a donor overseas. In that case, the cost to the patient rises fivefold.” The Ministry of Health and Welfare is currently mapping out countermeasures. Gong In-sik, an official at the ministry’s cancer treatment team, said, “We aim to raise the rate of actual donation with a regular ad blitz.” Starting next year, the ministry plans to promote paid leave for those who donate their bone marrow. Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
