The Government of Saskatchewan has launched a new online tool for people to register as an organ and tissue donor.

The registry allows Saskatchewan residents to make a formal declaration of their decision to become an organ and tissue donor, replacing the previous sticker system that was used on Saskatchewan health cards for several years. Any Saskatchewan resident 16 years of age or older is eligible to register.

Advocates and the government hope the new registry will help to modernize the province’s organ and tissue donation system, improve donation rates and reduce transplant waitlists.

Blaine Pho has been a strong advocate for an organ donor registry in the province for years after his wife Michelle passed away in 2018 following ten years of fighting lupus left her with irreversible kidney damage.

He said it’s a very personal decision to become a registered donor, but he asks that people take it seriously.

“It’s up to the individual and I think they need to make the decision that’s best for them. But, they also need to consider how many lives they can save by doing this,” said Pho at the government’s launch event on Thursday at T.C. Douglas Building in Regina. “I think it’s up to eight lives for every individual that donates.”

According to the government, one tissue donor can help 75 people.

“There just aren’t that many donors and it’s very difficult knowing the person you love needs a kidney and there is nothing you can do. It is such a gift to be able to give life,” added Pho.

Lori Garchinski, executive director of provincial programs – tertiary care with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said conversations with family members are absolutely key so everyone is on the same page. She said those talks need to happen if people are considering becoming a donor.

“It isn’t stressful if you’re having those discussions because end-of-life situations when you’re sitting in an intensive care unit or an emergency area, and people are coming to ask you those questions, is very different when they have a sense of understanding of what you wanted,” stated Garchinski.

Health Minister Jim Reiter mentioned that he registered on the website prior to Thursday’s launch in the Queen City. He encourages everyone to join him in registering their intent to donate, but he said it’s important to let your family members know beforehand.

“In other jurisdictions, the numbers bear out like this: if the discussion didn’t happen with the family and someone was an eligible donor, less than half of families allow for their loved one to be a donor,” explained the minister. “In cases their intent is known ahead of time, it’s about 90 per cent.”

Reiter said that it’s a quick and simple process to register, adding it took him a couple minutes to fill out the required information on the website.

More information about the registry or become a registered organ and tissue donor can be found at Give Life Sask.