After years of decline number of organ donors has risen

Number of organ donors in Germany rose slightly
Over 10,000 critically ill people in Germany are currently awaiting the transplantation of an organ. In many cases, the transplant could be life-saving. After years of decline, the number of organ donors in this country has risen again slightly.

Numbers go up again. Image: Alexander Raths - fotolia

Number of organ donors increased slightly
More than 10,000 critically ill people in Germany are currently awaiting the transplantation of a - in many cases lifesaving - organs. To get one, there must be a matching donor. The chance of finding such a one had declined in recent years. A major reason for this was the fact that several transplant scandals in this country so many people were so unsure that they were no longer willing to register as a potential donor. Last year, the willingness to donate organs has risen again slightly. And just a few months ago, around 70 million insured persons were sent an organ donor card by post. Now the number of organ donors has risen a bit again.

Donor numbers had plummeted after scandals
According to a report by the news agency dpa, the number of organ donors in Germany has increased at least slightly again after years of decline. The German Foundation for Organ Transplantation (DSO) in Frankfurt reported that in 2015 877 people became organ donors nationwide, which was 1.5 percent more than a year earlier. In 2014, 864 people had donated organs nationwide. According to the DSO, the number of donors thus remained stable for the first time after having collapsed after manipulation of the waiting lists in 2012 and 2013. (Ad)