Orgaan-coördinator in ziekenhuis als oplossing voor lange wachtlijsten in EU (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Spaans voorzitterschap Europese Unie 1e helft 2010 i, gepubliceerd op zondag 21 maart 2010.

The Spanish Minister of Health and Social Policy, Trinidad Jiménez, will open the ‘Madrid organ donation and transplantation conference’ on Tuesday, that will bring together the EU Ministers of Health and experts from all over the world.

The meeting organised in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Transplantation Association, will transform Madrid into the world transplantation capital.

The event consists of two parts:

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    A European Conference will be held on 23 March where the current transplantation situation in the EU will be revised and the measures adopted to favour donations tackled. Among these is the future Directive on Quality and Safety in organ donations and transplantations, the work of which is led by Spain.
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    On 24 and 25 March, the 3rd Global Consultation of the WHO on organ donations and transplants will take place, where experts from all over the world will analyse different formulas for becoming self-sufficient in donations, as an essential mechanism for eradicating organ trafficking and transplantation tourism.

The European Directive proposal for organ transplantations that might be approved in May is one of the Spanish Presidency of the EU's priorities, as Spain has collaborated especially in its preparation.

The European Commission's action plan for promoting transplants is partly inspired by the Spanish model. Among other proposals, the EC recommends appointing a transplant coordinator in all hospitals, a figure that was created in Spain and that has brought about an increase in donations of 130% in a decade.

Spain is the world leader in organ transplant, as it registered 34.2 donations per million inhabitants in 2008. The Spanish rate almost doubles the European rate (18.2) and exceeds the United States' rate by eight percent (26.3).

According to the European Commission's official publication, Newsletter Transplant, Portugal, with a decentralised model similar to the Spanish one, reached 26.7 donors per million inhabitants, and is second in the world ranking.

The United Kingdom, also after adopting the Spanish model, increased its donation rate more than one percent in 2008, standing at 14.7 donors per million inhabitants.

The publication includes the last recount of European patients on the waiting list for a transplant. On 31 December 2008, 63,107 people were waiting for a transplant in Europe (61,905 in 2007). It is estimated that at least twelve Europeans die every day waiting for a transplant.