The Ministry of Health confirms the exposure of "Israel Today" • In 2020, there was a sharp decline in all types of transplants, along with an alarming increase in the number of patients who died while waiting for surgery • There was also a reported decline in organ donation potential.
More patients died while waiting for transplants
Photography:
Oren Ben Hakon
Severe and worrying consequences for public health have been recorded due to the corona epidemic:
a significant decrease in all organ transplants in Israel in 2020 along with a tragic increase in the number of patients who died while waiting for organ transplants.
There was also an increase in the waiting list for organ transplants, and a decrease in the detection of potential organ donations.
These data confirm the October exposure in "Israel Today" according to which even then hospital managers and senior physicians warned that since the beginning of 2020 there has been a sharp and alarming decline in organ donations and transplants in Israel.
Officials estimate that the data are similar to those published around the world, according to which with the outbreak of the epidemic, there was a 50% or more decrease in organ donations and transplants in England, the US and other countries.
According to data published yesterday (Wednesday), the National Center for Transplantation in the Ministry of Health did indeed see a decrease in all organ transplants in Israel, with the largest decrease being in lung transplants (34% decrease), kidney transplants (23% decrease), liver transplants (17% decrease) and transplants Heart (9% decrease).
According to these data, due to the sharp decline in organ transplants this year there was also an alarming 10% increase in patients waiting for transplants, and this year 1,266 patients are waiting for transplants compared to 1,153 at the beginning of 2019. In addition, 63 patients died this year. .
It was also reported yesterday that there was an alarming decrease of about 30% in consent for organ donations for transplantation within the family, and in 2002, 85 organ transplants donated by family members were performed, compared to 121 such transplants in 2019.
The National Transplant Center explains the decline in coronary transplants and organ donations during ongoing closures in the fact that coronary brain death does not allow organ donation, temporary cessation of planned surgeries, decreased car accident victims and apprehension of transplant patients arriving at the hospital thus delaying surgery.
