Lowest number of organ donations in Norway in ten years – think it is pandemic related
Last year, it was performed from 95 organ donations deceased given at Norwegian hospitals. This is the lowest figure in ten years. It shows figures from Oslo University Hospital.
– We probably see the effect of a health care system that has been under pressure for almost a year with a pandemic. We know, among other things, that fewer potential donors have been detected in the intensive care units. This may indicate that the awareness of organ donation has decreased somewhat in the donor hospitals, at the same time as covid treatment and preparedness takes up a lot of capacity and resources at the hospitals, says information manager Aleksander Sekowski at the Organ Donation Foundation.
The 95 donors helped a total of 374 patients with 404 life-saving organs.
In addition, there was also a relatively high no-share. These are both cases where the deceased himself was against organ donation, or where the next of kin did not want a donation.
Read also: The 17-year-old died in a traffic accident – saved six lives with organ donation
– In recent years, the rejection rate has been too high. There has been a great deal of corona focus in the newsrooms, and health journalism in particular. It has gone beyond topics such as organ donation. We know that the stories in the media about people who have been affected by donation and transplantation are very important for people’s awareness and positive attitude, says Sekowski.
488 patients were on the waiting list for a new organ at the end of last year. It is at the same level as in 2020, when 490 patients were waiting.
Read also: Ida Eide has given 6 people a better life, through organ donation
Sekowski is happy that many patients received the help they desperately needed in 2021, but is at the same time concerned about a high no-share in the population.
– Say yes to organ donation. Share it with your loved ones, and fill out the Donor Card ™ helsenorge.no ! Organ donation is something we do for each other. A single “yes” can save up to seven lives, is his call.
read also: Cycled over 3000 km to hear the daughter’s heartbeat one last time
Organs that can be donated are according to the Norwegian Resource Group for Organ Donation (NOROD) kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas and intestines.