Brussels, 07/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 7 December, the Health Council adopted conclusions on organ donation and transplantation. Member states (at the informal meeting in Nicosia on 10-11 July) consider this subject to be of major importance given the shortage of organs available for transplant and the difficulties of transferring organs from one member state to the next. Pointing out how important organ donations are for patients suffering from certain illnesses such as terminal kidney failure (when transplant is the last possible resort), and the very positive results achieved from transplanted patients, Cypriot Health Minister Androulla Agrotou said she was pleased with the results obtained by the presidency on this priority issue for Cyprus. Health Commissioner Tonio Borg asserted for his part that he was convinced that, by moving forward together, they would be able to increase organ availability, have more effective transplant systems and improve safety. The availability of organs remains a challenge. Public awareness campaigns must be increasingly organised and there must be cooperation to note best practices in member states, he added.
In its conclusions, the Council welcomes the measures taken to increase organ availability and invites member states to continue their effort in that respect, mainly by encouraging citizens to commit to organ donation after their decease. It also invites member states to set in place transparent mechanisms for the reimbursement of living donors, in order to offset costs incurred when donating an organ and/or the possible loss of revenue due to organ donation. As far as the effectiveness and the accessibility of transplant systems is concerned, the Council welcomes the conclusion of agreements between member states in this respect and also points out that there is an absolute need to combat organ trafficking, which is in violation of fundamental human rights and is detrimental to citizens' confidence in organ donation. On the subject of transplant safety and quality, the Council states it is necessary to make the effects of transplantation on the health of patients better known, and it invites member states to exchange information regarding their national authorisation procedures for transplant centres. (IL/transl.jl)