Waiting for a sign of life: 206 people in MV urgently need organ donations

Waiting for a sign of life: 206 people in MV urgently need organ donations

There is a clear shortage of available donor organs in Germany. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania alone, 206 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ. The most common need is for kidney donations, with 157 people dependent on it. A donor liver is essential for 27 people, while 18 people, including three minors, are eagerly hoping for a new heart. These numbers highlight the urgent need for action to help patients waiting for a transplant. As nordkurier.de reports, there were only 22 organ donors in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2024 - a decrease compared to 29 the year before.

Across Germany, 8,260 people are registered on waiting lists for an organ transfer. While the number of organ donors in Germany fell to 953 in 2024, a significant number of 3,013 organs were transplanted, benefiting 2,902 patients. However, there are bright spots: in the new federal states, which also include Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the willingness to donate organs is above the national average of 11.4, with 14 donors per million inhabitants. In comparison, Spain tops the list, where the donor rate is 43.1 per million inhabitants, which shortens waiting times for patients.

Need for information and legal changes

A survey found that 54% of residents in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania already have a donor card and 83% would generally be willing to donate organs. Despite this positive trend, the actual number of donations remains below expectations. Health Minister Stefanie Drese is therefore calling for new regulations on organ donation and has discussed the introduction of an objection solution. The current decision-making solution in Germany requires that consent to organ donation must be actively expressed, which could often deter potential donors from making a positive decision.

A fundamental component of the reform efforts is the nationwide digital organ donation register, which will provide all donor hospitals with the information relevant to them from 2024. In this register, citizens can record their wishes regarding organ and tissue donation, which is intended to save time in an emergency and make it easier for relatives to make decisions. The Transplantation Act, which has been in force since December 1, 1997, regulates the donation, removal, placement and transfer of organs and provides comprehensive control mechanisms to prevent misuse. The innovations aim to ensure transparency and equal opportunities in the distribution of organs dso.de.

A permanent call for donations

The statistics show that despite efforts to raise awareness and the legal framework, many people in Germany are still unsure when it comes to organ donation. It is important that everyone consciously deals with the issue and, if necessary, makes a decision for or against organ donation. To date, however, this decision has often been neglected to be documented, which can lead to additional pressure on relatives in an emergency. The register will help to reduce the uncertainty and will provide valuable support in education organspende-info.de.

The need for organ donation is an issue that affects us all. Let us take action and have discussions about it as well as make a decision ourselves - because every organ transplanted life is a gifted life.