Media release: Compensating live organ donors bill a win for New Zealand
Wellington (1 December 2016): The New Zealand Initiative is delighted that Chris Bishop’s bill compensating live organ donors passed its third reading yesterday.
Dr Eric Crampton, Head of Research with the Initiative, said “This bill will help overcome substantial financial barriers that prevent a lot of people from donating organs. It will make a real difference in their lives.”
The Initiative submitted on the Bill, arguing that donor compensation should be at 100% of lost earnings rather than 80%. Elizabeth Prasad’s research note for the Initiative, Compensation for Live Donors, showed that the government saves over $120,000 for every kidney transplant through reduced costs of dialysis. The note drew on Ms Prasad’s Masters thesis in Economics. Dr Crampton assisted in supervising Ms Prasad’s thesis, which began as an honours project under Dr Crampton’s supervision when he was with Canterbury’s Department of Economics and Finance.
The Initiative’s Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, added, “Ms Prasad’s work made a real difference in helping New Zealand move toward better legislation. The legislation’s unanimous support in Parliament is a triumph for Chris Bishop, and shows what can happen when academia and policy worlds work together to make the country a better place. We are thrilled.”
The Initiative’s report and submission are available on our website.
ENDS
Dr Eric Crampton and Dr Oliver Hartwich are available for comment.
Media contact:
Simone White, Communications Officer
The New Zealand Initiative
Phone: +64 4 494 9109
Mobile: +64 21 2937 250
Email: simone.white@nzinitiative.org.nz
About The New Zealand Initiative
The New Zealand Initiative is an evidence-based think tank and research institute, which is supported by a membership organisation that counts some of the country’s leading visionaries, business leaders and political thinkers among its ranks.
Our members are committed to developing policies to make New Zealand a better country for all its citizens. We believe all New Zealanders deserve a world-class education system, affordable housing, a healthy environment, sound public finances and a stable currency.
The New Zealand Initiative pursues this goal by participating in public life, and making a contribution to public discussions.
For more information visit www.nzinitiative.org.nz