New campaign aims to address shortage of foreign organ donors in Czechia
Over 220 people in Czechia donated organs for transplantation last year, but a shortage of donors persists, especially among foreigners who have been living in the country. To help address this issue, the Prague-based Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) has launched a new website to explain the importance of organ donation to the bereaved.
Two years ago, doctors in Czechia transplanted 80 organs from foreign donors, but this year, it was only 14 so far. Doctor Ondřej Viklický, head of the Transplant Centre and Clinic of Nephrology at IKEM, urges all foreigners living in Czechia to consider becoming organ donors, emphasizing that every single donor makes a difference.
“The vast majority of donors are Czech citizens. When it comes to foreign donors, the average is just 10 to 20 per year. This may seem like a small number, but it’s significant because up to eight transplants can be performed from one donor. So, if we have 10 foreign donors, that enables roughly 80 transplants.”
There are no medical restrictions based on the race of either the organ donor or recipient. The critical factors are blood type, organ size, and genetic compatibility.
According to the Transplant Coordination Centre, nearly 900 transplant recipients were recorded in Czechia last year. However, around 1,000 people are still waiting for organs, Dr. Viklický says:
“The demand for organs is immense. Right now, we have more than 300 patients waiting for kidney transplants at IKEM alone. The typical waiting time is about one year, and our total waiting list exceeds 500 patients.”
Doctors attribute the shortage of foreign donors primarily to the legal differences that apply to foreigners compared to Czech citizens. In Czechia, anyone who hasn’t formally opted out during their lifetime is considered an organ donor. However, this rule doesn’t apply to foreigners, explains transplant coordinator Eva Pokorná:
“For foreigners, we always need to verify their stance on organ donation. This might involve checking if they have a donor card or a statement in their driver’s license. If no documentation exists, we must contact a close relative for consent. Relatives have the right to refuse, and if they do, we have to respect that.”
Language barriers also contribute to the issue. To address this, IKEM has created information brochures in eight languages and launched a new website at ikem.cz to guide families through the organ donation process and alleviate their concerns. They also plan to collaborate with Ukrainian priests, who can directly engage with the community.
Under current legislation, only foreigners who are members of the public health insurance system are eligible to join the Czech transplant waiting list. It’s not possible to pay privately for a transplant or qualify through commercial health insurance.
