Heroic live organ donors receive fair compensation

National MP Chris Bishop welcomes the real difference his Compensation for Live Organ Donors Act has made to the 78 donors, the organ recipients and their families on the eve of the anniversary of its passage into law a year ago.

“Since 5 December last year, live organ donors in New Zealand have been able to claim compensation for 100 per cent of their loss of earnings while they recuperate from their surgery. Live organ donors are heroes and now the law treats them so.

“Previously, live organ donors were only entitled to assistance through WINZ, compensated at the same rate as the sickness benefit. The new system is much better and much fairer.

“The increased support that is now available for organ donors encourages live donors to make the tough but heroic decision to donate.

“In 2013 just twelve people obtained compensation through WINZ for being live organ donors, even though there were 61 live transplants.

“I’m delighted that in the ten months from December 2017 to September 2018, 78 people have obtained full compensation through the Ministry of Health thanks to the new Act.

“In time, I believe the increased compensation will help encourage more people to come forward to reduce our organ waiting list. The Act removes a big barrier that used to prevent people from donating – the financial sacrifice from weeks off work while earning very little.”

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