Increase in number of organ transplants in Slovakia

2010-01-26

The number of transplant procedures in Slovakia increased to 215 in 2009, from 204 in 2008, according to a Slovak Health Ministry report on the National Transplant Programme, quoted by the SITA news agency. The increase was prompted by the Transplant Programme, adopted in March 2008, within the framework of which a network of transplant coordinators was created. The Programme proved to be extremely effective, particularly in the area of liver transplants, the number of which doubled from 12 in 2008 to 24 in 2009, but there was a reduction in the number of heart transplants.
The Transplant Programme was adopted by the Slovak government in March 2008, with the intent of increasing the number of organs and tissue transplants and transposing the EU legislation on donation, procurement, storage and distribution of organs, tissues and cells into the Slovak legislative system.