New Scheme in Oz to Introduce Paid Leave for Kidney Donors

Australians who donate their kidneys will be given six weeks paid leave under a new scheme launched by the federal government in order to reduce the list of patients who are awaiting a kidney transplant surgery. According to the scheme, people who will donate their kidneys will be given paid six weeks on minimum wage, or $3600, in order to reduce the financial pressure that living donors face both before and after surgery.

The government is expected to put up $1.3 million over a two year trial period after which the scheme will be reviewed in 2015, Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and parliamentary secretary for health and ageing Shanye Neumann said.

“Providing the ability to take the time off work, while still having some form of income for everyday expenses such as bills, the mortgage and groceries, means there is one less thing to worry about. Live kidney donations are therefore critical in helping to address this unmet demand”, Kidney Health Australia chief executive Anne Wilson said.

Source-Medindia