KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 10,800 people are currently waiting for organ transplants in Malaysia, an increase of 5.4 per cent from last year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said the figure highlights the urgent need to boost organ donation rates in the country, which remain significantly lower compared to other nations, including those with Muslim-majority populations such as Turkey and Iran.

"In Malaysia, the ratio stands at only 1.33 donors per one million people, while Turkey has reached 7.5, the United States 36.9, and Spain at the top with 50.26 per million," he told a press conference after launching the National Organ Donation Awareness Week at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.

Dzulkefly said family refusal remained one of the main barriers to successful organ transplants despite more than 400,000 Malaysians pledging to donate since 1997.

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"This is the main hurdle we need to overcome. That is why this year's campaign theme is 'My Heirs, Respect My Pledge', which seeks to ensure that the wishes of pledged donors are honoured by their families," he said.

As of July this year, 404,975 Malaysians have pledged to be organ donors.

However, only 3,359 transplants have been carried out since records began, comprising 1,121 cadaveric and 2,238 living donations.

Dzulkefly said Malaysia plans to elevate organ donation to the Asean health agenda.

"I have asked for proposals to be prepared so that the issue can be tabled at the Asean health ministers' meeting later this year.

He added that Malaysia's low performance in organ donation must be addressed through reforms in governance, better coordination at the National Transplant Resource Centre and sustained public education campaigns.

He added that statistics show that organ pledges have risen steadily, with 29,960 new pledges in 2022, 31,058 in 2023, and 7,802 in the first seven months of 2025.

Actual donations, however, remain low, with 43 cadaveric and 145 living transplants performed in 2022, compared with 82 cadaveric and 165 living transplants in 2023.

In 2024, there were 79 cadaveric and 135 living transplants.