A medical team carries an organ for transplant

The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Margaret Chan, has desigando the National Transplant Organisation (ONT) as a collaborating centre. From now on, WHO is committed to share with Spain to take all initiatives relating to the donation and transplants. The announcement coincides with the celebration of the National Day of Transplantation In today February 27.

Spain is 15 years, a world leader in transplants. In 2007, in our country there were 34.3 donations per million inhabitants. The appointment, "involves explicit and formal recognition to a partnership that already existed [between both agencies]," explained from the ONT to elmundo.es. The direct consequence of this "contract" is that "from now on the WHO about sharing their efforts with Spain," added.

For years, ONT struggled to WHO actively involve in politics transplant fact that culminated in the adoption of a resolution that calls upon all states to implement and expand a system of donation and transplants based on the principles free, solidarity, transparency and fairness; principles that characterize the Spanish model.

"It is the consolidation of a partnership that comes from afar," explained elmundo.es Rafael Matesanz, National Coordinator of transplantation. When WHO decided to deal with these issues, he adds, "the ONT was on their side, to cooperate closely in various lines of work."
An authority on the subject

One of the strengths of this "marriage" was the creation in 2006 of the World Transplant Registry, managed by our country, which facilitated in the same year that occurred 21,000 and donated 94,500 transplants worldwide. In addition, Spain coordinates international expert meetings, advises personally to other countries in the five continents (like the Netherlands or the United Kingdom), and chairs the American Council leads the draft directive prepared by the European Commission on quality and safety in transplantation.

The figures speak for themselves on the experience and leadership Spanish. In 2007, 3,829 transplants were performed (10 per day), 2,210 kidney, liver 1,112, 241, heart, lung 185, 76, pancreas and intestine five. The aim now is to increase donations by 20% to reach 40 donors per million inhabitants.

The Federation of Persons with Physical Disability has established the National Day of transplantation, which takes place this Wednesday. A day that seeks to thank publicly "their dedication, effort and work" for health personnel, administration, the units transplant hospitals and ONT.