A Brief Survey Assessing the Knowledge and Sentiments of Filipinos Regarding Organ Donation and Transplantation

Background: Since their introduction in the 1950s, human organ donation and transplantation procedures have saved the lives of millions of patients worldwide. Though it has been 35 years since the passage of the Organ Donation Act of 1991, organ donation rates in the Philippines remain relatively low. To help us better understand the cultural context for these low rates, we wanted to assess the current sentiments of the Filipino public regarding both organ donation and transplantation, and the current clinical criteria for determination of death. Methods: We created a brief survey comprising four questions, which were added to the quarterly Tugon ng Masa (TNM) nationwide face-to-face survey administered by OCTA Research Philippines in Q4 of 2025. One thousand two hundred (1,200) male and female probability respondents aged 18 and older from socioeconomic classes AB, C, D, or E homes were interviewed for the study. Results: Our findings reveal that 66% of respondents nationwide were aware that organ donation is possible in the Philippines and that 67% would be willing to donate a kidney to help a family member recover. In response to a question about whether they would be willing to donate an organ after their death to help another sick Filipino, only 24% of respondents replied that they would not be willing to donate an organ, suggesting that 65% of survey participants were open to donating after death. Finally, with regard to the clinical criteria for death, only 47% strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with the claim that a patient declared brain dead but whose heart is still beating and who is supported by a machine, is considered to have no signs of life. At the same time, 27% strongly disagreed or somewhat disagreed, while 25% could not say if they agreed or disagreed. Conclusions: Despite its limitations, we believe our findings provide an accurate snapshot of the knowledge and sentiments of Filipinos regarding organ donation and transplantation. It should benefit policymakers, health care professionals and others working to improve organ donation rates in the Philippines. To increase donation rates, there must be a sustained effort among stakeholders to intentionally build a culture of organ-giving so that organ donation is perceived by the Filipino public as a noble and praiseworthy act it is.