Donation numbers could recover in 2021 despite pandemic

The Covid 19 pandemic no longer had a negative effect on organ donations last year compared to 2020. The number of organ donations from deceased individuals increased from 146 to 166 compared to last year – which is also higher than in 2019. One reason for this is that hospitals are better equipped for organ donation today than they were a few years ago.

Back in 2013, the Federal Council launched an action plan with the cantons to increase the number of organ donations in Switzerland. The most important measures were to better align the structures in the hospitals with a donation and to promote cooperation between the agencies involved. In addition, the training of professional staff has been improved and funding for the relevant bodies has been secured. This pays off. In 2021, 484 postmortem and 125 living donated organs were transplanted. 587 recipients have received an organ donation (one or more organs) in Switzerland and thus a new perspective on life. The donation rate per million population increased from 13.7 in 2013 to 19.1 in 2021. The number of people on the waiting list has decreased slightly compared to the previous year: at the end of 2020, 1457 patients were waiting for an organ. At the end of 2021, there were 1434 people. Of these, only about 50 percent were eligible for transplantation. The other half were not eligible for transplantation for health reasons. Anyone who has decided to donate an organ should record this decision in writing and always inform their relatives. After all, they are the ones who are called upon and have to decide in an emergency.