A report from the Organ and Tissue Authority on its 2018 Organ Donation and Transplantation Outcomes reveals that the ACT recorded an organ donation rate per million population (dpmp) of 32.4, compared with the national average of 22.2 dpmp.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Meegan Fitzharris said there had been a 50 per cent increase in ACT donors since 2017, with a total of 21 donors in 2018.
“While there is a natural variation from year to year in the ACT, the trend is encouraging and compares very favourably with the national improvements,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“Due to the generosity of the donors and their families, more than 60 people received a life-saving donation and transplantation last year.”
She said the ACT had a very high consent rate at 75 per cent, but with 1,400 people currently waitlisted for a transplant and about 12,000 on dialysis, there was always more to do.
“If you haven’t already, I encourage you to register your decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register, it only takes a minute,” Ms Fitzharris said.
The Minister said it was important that Canberrans share their donation decisions with family and loved ones.
“We know that families who have discussed their decision in advance are much more likely to uphold the wish of the would-be donor,” she said.
