Introduction: Since 1993, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has regulated deceased organ donation (DOD), with recent enhancements introduced through Federal Decree Law No. 25 of 2023. Aligned with the Transplant of Human Organs, Unified Guide to Organ Transfer and Transplant in the GCC, the UAE has undertaken a comprehensive approach to address the multifactorial and complex nature of DOD, requiring standardization and ongoing evaluation.
Method: Drawing upon international best practices, local health authorities in the UAE defined standards and key performance indicators (KPIs) for DOD. These encompassed criteria for healthcare facilities and professionals involved in DOD, protocols for neurological criteria assessment and diagnosis of death, as well as procedures for early identification and referral of potential donors. In Dubai, four mandatory KPIs were established to assess structural, procedural, and outcome-based aspects. Donor hospitals were selected based on their potential for donations, with local and international experts collaborating to implement standards and measure KPIs. External audits conducted by international assessors provided further validation.
Results: In 2023, Dubai witnessed a remarkable 135% increase in DOD activity compared to 2022, accounting for 55% of the UAE's total DOD cases. The actual donation rate in the UAE rose from 5.5 per million population (DPMP) in 2022 to 9.16 DPMP in 2023. Hospital audits analysed current practices identifying gaps against UAE standards, confirming referrals to the UAE National Centre, evaluating process efficacy, and proposing enhancements. (See Tables 1 and 2 for audit report details.)
Conclusions: The UAE Quality Assurance Program for DOD, grounded in standardized methodologies and benchmarked against international best practices, serves as a robust framework for data collection and performance evaluation. Its implementation has proven instrumental in driving improvements in DOD practices, emphasizing its utility as a catalyst for progress in this critical domain.