During 2021 in Argentina, around 1,543 patients on the waiting list received an organ transplant from deceased donors and 246 from living donors, 40% more than in 2020. Added to the 1,392 corneal transplants, it gives a total of 3,181 for the year that ended. Of the total of these transplants, 203 were pediatric (under 18 years of age).
These 1,789 solid organ transplants are divided into 1,164 kidney transplants (the most frequent), 418 liver, 107 heart, 36 kidney-pancreatic, 35 lung, 16 hepatorenal, 5 cardiorenal, 3 pancreatic, 2 hepatointestinal, 2 cardiopulmonary, and 1 intestinal. However, it is necessary to continue promoting the culture of organ donation.
According to the National Central Unique Coordinating Institute for Ablation and Implantation (INCUCAI), each organ donor can save up to 8 lives and one tissue donor can help up to 75 people.
🥳 #DonarNosUne because the donation is a solidarity act that brings together the community as a whole ❤️
We thank those who were donors and made it possible for thousands of people to recover their health and live fully 💪🏾 #DonateIsGiveLife pic.twitter.com/OrkLMWgSXU
— INCUCAI (@incucaioficial) June 6, 2022
“Today there is greater awareness and responsibility with our own body and with those people who need a transplant in order to continue living, regardless of gender, ethnicity, social status or age. Despite the advances, more than 7,000 people are still waiting for an organ transplant in our country”, states Dr. Valeria El Haj, National Medical Director of OSPEDYC.
On the other hand, it is important to note that only 25% of patients who require a bone marrow transplant are compatible with their family group, the rest must resort to an unrelated donor, through the World Donor Registries.
Donating organs saves lives: how to donate?
All persons over 18 years of age have the right to express their wish to donate organs, that is, to state their wish regarding the fate of their organs and tissues after death. At the time of death, the responsible body will verify the last will towards organ donation. If there is no express statement, the law presumes that the person is a donor.
The procedure can be carried out online through the Mi Argentina application, through which people can access their digital credential of expression of will for organ and tissue donation.