translated from Spanish: World Transplant Patients Day: why it is fundamental and more so in pandemic

Every year, 6 June is commemorated as World Transplant Patients’ Day, with the aim of promoting the culture of organ donation. According to data from the National Central Institute for Ablation and ImplantAtion (INCUCAI), around 7,000 people still need a transplant to save their lives. Globally, more than 20 people die each day waiting for a transplant, and one person is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes. In Argentina, as reported by INCUCAI, more than 580 organ transplants have been performed so far in 2021 thanks to more than 220 donors and the adaptation of the health system with the corresponding protocols established for the selection of potential donors, ensuring the non-transmission of COVID-19. From the Ministry of Health of the Nation highlight that, during 2020, 1112 patients on the waiting list received an organ transplant; in total, 660 kidney transplants were performed, 270 hepatic, 92 cardiac, 45 renopancreatic, 21 pulmonary, 16 hepatorenal, 3 pancreatic, 2 cardiorenal, 2 hepatointestinal and 1 intestinal. In addition, 642 corneal transplants were performed, which were possible thanks to the realization of 706 organ and tissue donation processes, carried out throughout the national territory.” Only three years have passed since the passage of the Law on Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells (Law 27.447), and we can already say that there is a greater awareness and responsibility about people who need a transplant to continue living, however, we need even more commitment on the part of society so that the number of donors per million inhabitants grows, which today exceeds 4.80 donors per million inhabitants,” says Dr. Valeria El Haj, National Medical Director of OSPEDYC. Despite the impact of the coronavirus on donation and transplant activity since the pandemic began, efforts were made to maintain activity and adapt the system. “If anything characterized the pandemic was the degree of uncertainty that we go through as a society in general, but especially in the field of health, so continuing to raise awareness and accompany such complex treatments has been and continues to be a huge challenge,” adds Dr. Valeria El Haj. What are a donor’s rights? 
All persons over the age of 18 have the right to express their willingness to donate organs, that is, to establish their desire for the fate of their organs and tissues after death. Given the current context, the procedure can be carried out online through the Mi Argentina application, through which people will be able to access their digital credential of expression of will to donate organs and tissues.” It is important to continue to provide information so that people join in and know that lives can be saved. The more people enrolled to donate, the greater the possibilities for patients, especially those who need a bone marrow transplant, since only 25% of patients who require it, are compatible with their family group, the rest must turn to an unrelated donor, through the World Donor Registries” , explained the National Medical Director of OSPEDYC. He also stresses: “A donor can save up to 7 lives, imagine this transferred to millions of people who make the transplant possible every day through their donation” and concludes “awareness is fundamental to further reinforce what is being done from the health system”.

Original source in Spanish