Record July Organ Donation Rate

The highest ever organ donation rate for the month of July was achieved last month with 33 deceased donors giving a second chance at life to 98 Australians in need of a transplant, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, said yesterday.

“This year to date we have achieved the highest organ donation rate of 201 donors and the highest transplant recipient outcome of 593 transplant recipients for the same period in any year since national records began. This is an encouraging result,” Ms King said.

As at end July 2011, the Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry (ANZOD) shows that there were 201 organ donors compared to 174 organ donors for the same period in 2010 representing a 16% increase. This year to date, the number of transplant recipients has increased to 593 transplant recipients compared to 526 for the same period in 2010 representing a 13% increase this year.

President of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ), Professor Peter MacDonald welcomed the July 2011 figures. “TSANZ is encouraged by the continuing increase in the national organ donation rate and the increased transplant activity that this makes possible,” Professor MacDonald said.

Transplant Australia said more people than ever before are now receiving a transplant and this is reflected in the overall official waiting list reducing from 1,875 on 3 January 2008 to 1,590 at 4 August 2011.

“Importantly we would like to recognise the benefits not only to these individuals but also to their families. Behind every transplant recipient is a family hoping and praying that their loved one will receive the gift of life,” said Dr Alan Amodeo, Chairman of Transplant Australia.