New Protocols: Organ Transplant Lists

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PDF printable version of New Protocols: Organ Transplant Lists (PDF 25 KB)

1 July 2011

A consensus statement on organ transplant waiting lists and organ allocation protocols for transplantation was launched today by Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Catherine King.

Speaking after the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) in Canberra, Ms King said the new protocols “provide for nationally uniform and equitable eligibility criteria and allocation of donated organs for transplantation.

“In addition, the new Organ Transplantation from Deceased Donors: Consensus Statement on Eligibility Criteria and Allocation Protocols provide transparent guidelines for the management of transplant waiting lists.”

Central to the consensus statement are the ethical principles embodied in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) publication Organ and Tissue Donation after Death, for Transplantation - Guidelines for Ethical Practice for Health Professionals.

The consensus statement was developed by TSANZ through funding provided by the Organ and Tissue Authority as part of the implementation of the National Reform Agenda – A World’s Best Practice Approach to Organ and Tissue Donation for Transplantation.

In developing the consensus statement, TSANZ included input from two rounds of public submissions and two public consultation forums.

“The Australian Government has committed $151 million over four years to establish a nationally-coordinated approach to organ and tissue donation processes," Ms King said.

“This work is being driven by the Organ and Tissue Authority, in partnership with the states and territories and professional societies such as TSANZ, to ensure a sustained increase in the donation of organs—to improve access to life-saving and life-transforming transplants for all Australians in need."

In 2010, the first full year of implementation of the Australian Government's national reform program to increase organ and tissue donation rates, 309 organ donors saved or improved the lives of 931 Australians.

This was the highest donation and transplantation outcome achieved in Australia since national records began.

"By the end of May this year, 141 organ donors saved or improved the lives of 416 transplant recipients—a 19 per cent increase in donation and transplant outcomes, compared with the same period last year.

“What we need to do now is sustain these high donation rates and ensure their translation into transplant rates.

“The consensus statement will play a critical role in meeting this goal by building public and clinical confidence in the transparency and national consistency of our donation and transplantation process," Ms King said.

For more information, please contact the Parliamentary Secretary's Office on 02 6277 4230