Organ donation, transplantation numbers set record highs in Ireland

DUBLIN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 149 organ donations and 308 organ transplantations were made in Ireland in 2017, both setting record highs in the country's history, a senior health official said here on Friday.

The figures were revealed by the Irish Health Minister Simon Harris while launching a report about the public opinions on a proposed human tissue bill.

According to the minister, the 2017 organ donation and transplantation figures in Ireland represented 22 and 28 more respectively while compared with the previous year.

He said the total organ donations made this year included 98 donations of deceased donors and 51 donations from living kidney donors.

The minister said that organ donation is the cornerstone on which transplantation services are built, and thanked both the families of the deceased donors and the living donors for their great generosity and extreme kindness.

"Our record organ donation and transplantation performance in 2017 can only be developed further through the donation of organs," said the minister, calling on the public to consider organ donation and to share their intentions in this regard with families and loved ones. Enditem