Press Release: Saving Lives – Commission acts to improve organ donation across Europe

The Commission adopted important safety and quality measures for organ donation and a 10 point action plan to work with Member States on strengthening organ donation and transplantation systems in Europe. For many patients, organ transplantation represents the only life saving treatment available. There are currently 56,000 patients waiting for a suitable organ donor in the EU. It is estimated that every day 12 people die while waiting for transplantation. The Directive and Action Plan addressed three key challenges: improving the quality and safety of organs across Europe, increasing organ availability and making transplant systems more efficient and accessible.

European Commission: MEMO/08/774: Q&A: EU Directive and Action Plan on organ donation and transplantation http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/774&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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