Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have agreed to promote organ transplants. Bahrain people and hospitals would be urged to report cases of clinically brain dead patients and prepare relatives to ensure early donation.

A Salmaniya Medical Complex Yusuf Khalil Almoayyed Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Centre team received a Saudi Organ Transplant Centre delegation and discussed activating a GCC programme, involving particularly clinically brain dead patients.

The Bahraini team included SMC kidney transplant department chief Dr Soumaya Al Gharib and chief surgeon Dr Hamad Al Hilou.

The Saudi team was led by transplant co-ordinator Dr Zayed Mohammed Ibrahim and administrative co-ordinator Hassan Al Khanani.

Co-operation will also be stepped up with BDF Hospital and King Hamad Medical University Hospital.

The Saudi centre will present cash rewards to relatives of donors and clinically brain dead patients.

The meeting also discussed streamlining entry procedures to ensure speedy transportation of donated organs to Dammam via King Fahad Causeway and of patients and medical teams by air. – TradeArabia News Service