Hungary, as the current holder of the presidency of the Council of the EU, is advocating for the removal of barriers that are hindering the full potential of organ transplantation in the European Union. The continent is facing a shortage of organs, leading to long waiting lists for transplants. Transplants not only improve the quality of life for recipients but also save money for public health systems. For example, kidney transplant recipients in Spain cost €30,000 less per year than patients on dialysis. The Hungarian presidency has introduced a proposal aimed at increasing organ availability, efficiency, accessibility in transplant systems, and improving quality and safety standards.
Between 2009 and 2015, the EU implemented a plan for organ donation and transplantation, resulting in a 21% increase in donations across Europe. The Hungarian presidency believes that with the EU at a crossroads, a renewed and vigorous approach to organ donation and transplantation is imperative. One proposed idea is to increase exchanges between member states to facilitate organ exchange, fast-track transplantation, and organ procurement. However, there are concerns about the rapid transport of organs potentially affecting their quality. Eurotransplant is an existing organization that coordinates organ shipping within certain EU countries, but this coordination could be expanded to include the entire EU.
Donor rates vary significantly among EU member states, with Spain and Portugal having the highest rates and Bulgaria and Cyprus having the lowest. Deceased donors must meet specific criteria to qualify, making it challenging to achieve high donation rates, which is why there is a proposal to use ‘marginal donors’ – older donors or those with less optimal organs. While controversial, this approach could temporarily reduce waiting lists and address the organ shortage. Additionally, there is a proposal for countries like Germany to adopt an ‘opt-out’ system where all citizens are considered donors unless they explicitly opt-out. Eighteen EU countries already have legislation classifying all citizens as potential donors, with recent updates in countries like the Netherlands and Greece.
The Hungarian proposal aims to overcome barriers limiting the potential of organ transplantation in the EU. With a shortage of organs in Europe leading to long waiting lists for transplants, there is a need to increase organ availability, efficiency, accessibility, and improve quality and safety standards in transplant systems. The EU implemented a plan between 2009 and 2015 that resulted in a 21% increase in donations. To facilitate organ exchange, fast-track transplantation, and organ procurement, there is a suggestion to increase exchanges between member states. Concerns exist about the rapid transport of organs potentially affecting their quality, but Eurotransplant already coordinates organ shipping within certain EU countries, which could be expanded to include the entire EU.
Donor rates vary significantly among EU member states, with Spain and Portugal having the highest rates and Bulgaria and Cyprus having the lowest. Deceased donors must meet specific criteria to qualify, making high donation rates challenging. To address the shortage, there is a proposal to use ‘marginal donors’ – older donors or those with less optimal organs. Another proposal suggests that countries like Germany adopt an ‘opt-out’ system, where all citizens are considered donors unless they explicitly opt-out. Eighteen EU countries already have legislation classifying all citizens as potential donors, with recent updates in countries like the Netherlands and Greece.
