Organ Donors to get 100% compensation

Media Statement

21 September 2016

Organ Donors to get 100% compensation

Parliaments Health Select Committee have today recommended that live organ donors get full costs reimbursement instead of the originally proposed 80%.

The committee have been considering the Live Donor Compensation Bill since October last year.

Under the present system someone who donates their Kidney or part of a liver to another person are only eligible to a sickness benefit administered by Work and Income NZ.

This was seen as a barrier to donating for many due to the costs to the individual including lost wages during their recuperation.

The Live Donor Compensation Bill proposed that it be aligned to the ACC model in that up to 80% compensation be reimbursed.

The committee have agreed with the many written and oral submissions that the rate should be raise to 100%.

Organ donor campaigner Andy Tookey is happy that they have listened to the majority of submitters.

"I told the committee that in the current form the Bill should be renamed the 'Save a life - lose 20% of your wages Bill'

Not only is the donor saving a life but they are also saving the health system a fortune by getting a patient off expensive medical treatments.

Why should they go out of pocket as well?

Mr Tookey Petitioned Parliament in 2002 for compensation for live donors.

"It has taken 14 years for this to happen, and though I am happy that we've finally got there. I wonder how many more people would be alive today if the government had properly taken action on my petition all those years ago."

For the full report click here: http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/documents/reports

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