New EU organ donation laws will combat transplant tourism

Posted by Bronwen Maher on May 19, 2010 at 02:08 PM

New EU laws governing organ donations and transplants across the European Union which were passed today by the European Parliament represents good news for the 600 Irish people awaiting life-saving organ transplants.

Nessa Childers MEP who is a member of the Committee which brought the recommendations on a new EU-wide organ donation regime to the European Parliament explained: “This new plan allows for the creation of an EU-database of information about organs intended for donation. It also provides for the sharing of information on living or deceased donors as well as a pan-European certification system to combat the sinister transplants tourism trade.

“Ireland has a strong record on organ donation and transplantations with organ donations in 2009 up 21% on the previous year with a notable and welcome increase in much needed kidney donations.

"However, the number of people who die each year due to a lack of organs is still far too high and it is with this in mind that the European Parliament has decided to act to better co-ordinate the system across Europe.

“This new system which promotes the idea of every hospital in each Member State, including Ireland having a specialist Transplants Co-ordinator is based on a model perfected in Spain which boasts over 4,000 successful operations each year and a donor rate of 34 for every million citizens - almost twice the EU average.

“This new system adopted today is an example of the EU at its best. There are currently 600 people awaiting life saving operations in Ireland, according to the Irish Kidney Association, while only 81 deceased Irish people gave up their organs in 2008. These 81 people, however, saved 241 lives. If the 600 people currently on the list are to be given the best possible chance of achieving good health and living full lives then innovations such as the one approved in the European Parliament today must be properly resourced.

"While cuts continue in all areas of the public service, it is crucial that the health service is given special consideration, and that while key recommendations cited in the Commission's action plan become common European practice, Ireland should not be left lagging behind."

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