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The 2017 Annual Transplant Report shows that in 2017 there were 700 more transplants performed in the EU compared to the year before. Deceased donation after brain death remains the most common source of organs, but living donation and deceased donation after cardiac death are quickly growing in importance.
Ahead of the European Day of Organ Donation and Transplantation, Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: ''I am pleased to see the number of transplants and organ donations in the EU steadily growing from year to year. Life is precious and it's a gift we can share even after we are no longer alive. In fact, it is the greatest gift we can give to another human being and a legacy that will keep us alive in that person. I therefore encourage everyone to become organ donors and potentially help to save lives.''
Major differences remain in the number of transplants and donations between the Member States, which was also the basis for the EU Action Plan (2009-2015) on organ donation and transplantation. The Action Plan has turned these differences into an opportunity by identifying and exchanging good practices to strengthen the national transplant systems. It has also set a common agenda, and allowed the Commission to organise more than 20 EU-funded actions. Today the EU continues its support in this field through the Eudonorgan and Edith projects. Eudonorgan is a training and awareness-building programme for professionals and civil societies, while Edith brings together national authorities to assess the cost-benefit of kidney transplants and develop common registries on outcome for kidney donors and recipients.
European Day of Organ Donation and Transplantation is marked on 13 October.
Background:
The Annual Transplant report is published by the Council of Europe and the Spanish Transplant Agency (Organizacion Nacional de Trasplantes – ONT).
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