The Organ and Tissue Authority has reported a major increase in donations and transplants in the past year as well as donor consent rates.
Minister responsible for the Authority, Ken Wyatt said a record 1,544 Australians received transplants in 2018, 144 more than the previous year.
“We salute from the bottom of our hearts the 554 selfless and generous Australians who have given the gift of life in the past year,” Mr Wyatt said, “especially their families, who play a crucial role by confirming their loved one wanted to be a donor.”
“This means that in the 10 years since the national program started, organ donation has more than doubled.”
Mr Wyatt said a key factor in the increase in donations was a significant rise in the consent rate, from 59 per cent in 2017 to 64 per cent in 2018.
He said this was the highest rate ever recorded
“I am confident outcomes will continue to rise as consent rates increase,” he said.
“Organ and tissue donation is now firmly embedded in our hospitals with over 275 donation specialist nurses, doctors and support staff covering 96 hospitals across Australia.”
He said 75 per cent of families say ‘yes’ to donation when a donation specialist is involved providing information to family members in the hospital.
“The 2018 results will place Australia in the top 15 countries in the world for organ donation, with a national donation rate of 22.2 donors per million population (dpmp),” Mr Wyatt said.
“Increasing our consent rate to 70 per cent would place Australia in the world’s top 10 performing countries.
“We are now within six per cent of achieving this goal.”
Mr Wyatt said more people were still needed to agree to organ donation.
“You can register at www.donatelife.gov.au” he said.
“In less than a minute on your mobile phone, tablet or computer, to one day give someone a second chance at life.”
