The Reality of Inadequate Patient Care and the Need for a Global Action Framework in Organ Donation and Transplantation

Abstract

Background. Transplant therapy is considered the best and often the only available treatment for thousands of patients with organ failure that results from communicable and noncommunicable diseases. The number of annual organ transplants is insufficient for the worldwide need. Methods. We elaborate the proceedings of the workshop entitled “The Role of Science in the Development of International Standards of Organ Donation and Transplantation,” organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and cosponsored by the World Health Organization in June 2021. Results. We detail the urgency and importance of achieving national self-sufficiency in organ transplantation as a public health priority and an important contributor to reaching relevant targets of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development. It details the elements of a global action framework intended for countries at every level of economic development to facilitate either the establishment or enhancement of transplant activity. It sets forth a proposed plan, by addressing the technical considerations for developing and optimizing organ transplantation from both deceased and living organ donors and the regulatory oversight of practices. Conclusions. This document can be used in governmental and policy circles as a call to action and as a checklist for actions needed to enable organ transplantation as treatment for organ failure.

Organ Donation and Transplantation in China

“…8 A central limitation is that China and many other countries have not addressed important health issues related to the World Health Assembly Resolution 63.22 linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to quantify the true burden of disease and identify causes of premature death related to noncommunicable disease. 5,9 There have been nascent attempts to quantify the burden of end-stage kidney and liver disease, 10 but a more complete analysis of the true number of patients with endstage organ disease as well as robust outcome data after transplantation will be an important reflection of China's ascendancy as a world leader in transplantation.…”

Systematic review on the involvement and engagement of patients as advisers for the organisation of organ transplantation services

“…Moreover, integration of involved and engaged patients in transplant organisations may greatly improve transparency and public understanding and could thus promote societal acceptance of and trust in national transplantation systems. Increased patient-centredness with improved service quality and transparency might improve public readiness to altruistic organ donation for transplantation, which would help to reduce the currently increasing scarcity of suitable donor organs 9–11…”

Critical pathway for deceased donors: An analysis in three regions of Colombia

“…Organ transplantation is the cutting-edge approach for treating end-stage organ diseases like cirrhosis or heart failure 1 . Replacement of the damaged organ with a fully functioning one brings better outcomes than any pharmacological therapy, improving survival, augmenting life expectancy, and reducing the cost of attention 2,3 . Every year, thousands of transplants are performed worldwide, with great results for the recipient 3 .…”