10 January 2006
Falling Organ Donations have placed Australia’s transplant
system on the critically ill list Kidney Health Australia claimed
today.
Kidney Health Australia Chief Executive Anne Wilson said,
“Australia’s organ donation rate continues to flounder with new
figures released today (by the Australia and New Zealand Organ Donor
Registry) showing a 7% fall in the number of organ donors in 2005
compared to 2004.
“This is at a time when we are having a 6% annual increase in the
numbers of people on dialysis. This fall in organ donation is a
heavy hit on all those who are waiting for a transplantation - their
average wait will be 4 years.”
“One person dies every week waiting for their kidney transplant.”
Ms Wilson said, “the reduction in donor numbers occurred in 3
States: Queensland (10% fall); NSW (14%) and South Australia (49%).
The fall was particularly surprising in South Australia that until
2005 had regularly led the nation in the organ donation rate for the
last decade.
Rises occurred in Western Australia (30%) and Victoria (11%). The
highest rate of donation (15 donors per million population (pmp))
for 2005 occurred in Western Australia where new initiatives taken
by the State Government in 2004 appear to be working.
Australia’s performance in organ donation continues to suffer in
comparison with overseas. Spain has just reported a rate of 35.1
donors pmp for 2005 and the US has reported a rate of 24.1 in 2004.
Australia’s rate lingers at the bottom end for developed countries.
Ms Wilson said that initiatives taken last year by the Federal
Government to improve the function of the Australian Donor Register
have resulted in only 4.5% of Australians recording their intention
to be a donor at the present time.
“It is too early to judge whether this change in registration is
going to assist the overall donation rate,” she added.
Media Enquiries:
Anne Wilson Chief Executive Kidney Health
Australia Mobile: 0400 165 391
Ron Smith Corporate Media
Communications (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201
