A review of Australia’s organ donation, retrieval and transplantation services has recommended the establishment of a national strategy to meet organ transplant demand.
A report from the Review of the Australian organ donation, retrieval and transplantation system, prepared by Ernst & Young (EY) for the Department of Health, found that increased demand for transplants was placing significant pressure on resources.
Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton said the report would inform the Department’s strategy to increase access to lifesaving transplants going forward.
“The success of the first decade of the national program has seen more than 11,000 Australians receive a life-changing transplanted organ thanks to the generosity of more than 4,000 donors and their families,” Mr Coulton said.
“However, as long as there are Australians waiting for a transplant, Governments across Australia still have more work to do.”
The Review found that since 2009, the number of deceased organ donors has increased by 106 per cent and the number of transplant recipients by 75 per cent.
“This increased activity is placing significant pressure on downstream resources and workforce planning for organ retrieval and transplantation services,” the Review said.
The Review identified three priority areas for action: development of a national strategy to meet the predicted increase in organ transplantation volumes; improvement of governance to optimise future growth and sustainability of the donation, retrieval and transplant system; and development of a nationally-driven approach to improve organ donation and transplantation rates and outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and those who live in rural and remote locations.
“This report gives us a clear picture of the challenges in the system and will inform the strategy to increase access to lifesaving transplants,” Mr Coulton said.
The 171-page EY report can be accessed at this PS News link.
