Living organ donors will be reimbursed in B.C.

B.C.is launching North America's first program to reimburse living organ donors to help them cope with out-of-pocket costs such as lost wages and travel.

The three-year, $300,000 pilot project is being funded by the B.C. Transplant Society, the Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Provincial Health Services Authority.

The agencies hope theoffer for financial help will mean shorter waiting lists for recipients.

It's estimated that up to 12 per cent of would-be donors don't come forward because of money concerns.

Kidney Foundation spokesman Ken Merkley, himself a two-time kidney transplant recipient, says the new program shouldallow those people to help others.

"We believe it is morally wrong that those who step forward to provide a kidney or part of a liver to a loved one, and in some cases to a total stranger, should be financially penalized in making this ultimate gift."

Transplant experts say the program will pay for itself in five years, and will make a real difference for some of the 300 people on B.C.'s transplant waiting list, and the hundreds more on dialysis.

Toni Da Cunha Amarelis one of those dialysis patients. His one remaining kidney only functions at about 10 percent of normal, and he requires twice-weekly dialysis.

"Having needles all the time is not a great experience," he said. "It drains you a lot."

The new program is going to help get his sister to Canada from his home country of Portugal, so she can givehim one of her kidneys.

"This is Canada. It's a really great country. It's amazing," said Amarel, noting there's nothing like the new program in Portugal.