Spain is retaining its lead in organ transplants.
Figures presented at a press conference earlier this month during a visit to the headquarters of the National Transplant Organization (ONT) by Health Minister Dolors Montserrat, showed that Spain, which has been world leader in both organ donation and transplants for the last 25 years, has again beaten its own record in 2016, with 4,818 transplants (an average of 43.4 donors per million inhabitants (a total of 2,018 donors). In addition, waiting lists in almost every organ category have fallen, from 5,673 patients in 2015 to 5,477 in 2016 – a drop of 196. In total during 2016, Spain carried out 2,994 kidney transplants, 1,159 liver transplants, 281 heart transplants, 73 pancreas transplants and 307 lung transplants. The ONT says the improved results come from the increased use of non heart beating donors, which makes up 1 in 4 of those donating an organ, plus better coordination with doctors who work in the accident and emergency units to identify possible donors.
Spain Leads The World In Organ Transplants
During the same period, there was also a fall in the number of kidney transplants from living donors. From 341 compared to 388 in 2015, again as a result of more organs becoming available from deceased donors. The ONT says that donors are becoming older with 54.6% aged over 60 and close to a third being 70 or older, with almost 10% are in their eighties. In fact the oldest donor in Spain in 2016 was aged 94 and provided a liver.
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