University of Barcelona leads way in organ donation initiative

The University of Barcelona (UB) is leading a European Union initiative aimed at promoting organ donation and inspiring more people to sign up as donors.

The Eudonorgan program, which this Monday held its first session at the university’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, intends to improve education and awareness about organ donation between member states.

As it stands, an estimated 87,000 people in Europe are currently on the waiting list to receive organs. Eudonorgan says that by multiplying the present number of donors by three, this figure could be covered.

According to Eudonorgan director Martí Manyalich, the project’s objectives are “to train professionals and raise awareness among the population.”

In a press conference held on Monday, Manyalich ascertained that the EU has a low level of organ donation, with 15 donors per 1 million inhabitants. Spain, on the other hand, has the highest donation rate in the world, with 43 donors out of every 1 million people, while Catalonia carries out the most kidney donations in Europe.

“The Spanish model must be extended to other countries,” said José Ramon Núñez Peña, Medical Director of the World Health Organisation’s Donor and Transplant Program.