Commission Takes Steps to aid Organ Donation in Europe

The European Commission recognizes the need for an increase in organ donation in Europe, with new safety and quality measures as well as a ten point action plan to improve organ donation and transplantation system in Europe. Organ donating has become an established practice worldwide, but EU legislation so far had not developed accordingly. More than 56,000 EU residents are currently on organ donor waiting lists, the last resort for some. Significant changes are necessary in order for regulations to become up to date. Estimates say that a frightening 12 people die every day waiting for transplantation. This number is unnecessarily high. The Commission has addressed three key challenges in their Directive and Action Plan: improving quality and safety of organs across Europe, increasing the availability of organs and improving the effectiveness and accessibility of transplant systems.

The Directive on Organ Safety and Quality Measures

The Directive has introduced a legal framework for organ donation in Europe. A national competent authority will be responsible for each member state's compliance with the terms of the Directive.  Two of the principles introduced are traceability and reporting. Data collection will become standardized. There must also be continued monitoring of performance and result achieved.  The Commission has as its objective the minimization of risk to the organ recipient, to improve and optimize the allocation of organs and to provide the transplant surgeon with the necessary information to make important decisions.

10 point Action Plan

The Commission also developed an Action Plan (2009-2015), which foresees actions addressing the 3 key challenges in organ donation and transplantation in Europe; improving the quality and safety of organs, increasing organ availability and making transplant systems more efficient and accessible. Co-ordination between member states is key. Member states much share information on good practice. Knowledge needs to be harmonized and used to its potential. Experiences also need to be exchanged on the use of Transplant Donor Coordinators to increase the number of available organs. The Plan will attempt to improve organ donation in Europe and allow it to perform to its highest potential in supply, quality, safety and cooperation.

Organ Donation Cards in Europe

Alarming results from Eurobarometer tell us that although 8 out of 10 Europeans support the use of organ donor cards, a mere 12% actually carry one. The European Commission has proposed a European organ donor card in order to increase the availability of organs in Europe. We are also told that 56% of Europeans are willing to donate an organ after they die, and this reaches 77% in people who have discussed the issue with their family, but only 41% have discussed the issue. Only 19% of Europeans oppose the idea of an organ donor card to show a person's willingness to donate. The results show an increase in the percentage of EU citizens who would be willing to donate the organs of a deceased family member. The figure now rests at 54%.

Results also vary dramatically between member states, with the greatest numbers of donation cards in the Netherlands (44%), Sweden (30%) and Ireland (29%). The lowest figures are to be found in countries that have recently joined the EU. The overall EU figure rests at 12%.

The potential to increase organ donation in Europe can be seen in light of these results. There is a huge gap between the acceptance of an organ donation card and the amount of people actually carrying one. The Commission hopes to turn these statistics into an improvement in the area of organ donation and transplantation in Europe.