Spain once again leads world transplant lists

2014 saw Spain reach a new national record for both the number of organ donations and transplant operations to consolidate the country's reputation as the world leader in organ transplants.

During the past year in Spain, 4,360 people received a transplant of one kind or another, with a level of 36 donors per million people, according to a report on the National Transplant Organization (ONT), published by the Spanish Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality on Tuesday.

In 2014, 1,682 people donated organs, 1.6 percent more than in 2013, prompting Health Minister Alfonso Alonso to comment: "we are at a maximum historical level, and as a result of this we can assure people that Spain is leading the world in terms of donations and transplants, thanks to the collaboration of its citizens and the efforts of the professionals in the National Health System (SNS)."

Meanwhile the Director of the ONT, Rafael Matesanz commented 2014 had been "a splendid year, both in terms of donations and also in transplants and it has been the best in the entire history of the ONT."

Matesanz highlighted that the Spanish average of 36 donors per million inhabitants is much higher than the European Union average of 19 donors per million people.

In total 2014 saw 2,678 kidney transplant operations, 1,068 liver transplants, 265 heart transplant operations, as well as 81 pancreas and 6 intestine transplants.

Meanwhile the profile of donors continues to change with 54 percent of all donors over 60 years old, 60 percent of donors men and 40 percent women.

Matesanz highlighted that "the majority of donors had died of heart failure (of various causes), with the number of donors who had died in road accidents reduced to just 5 percent." Endit