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While a fourth ministerial organ and tissue transplant plan was unveiled last March by the government, the waiting time to obtain certain organs continues to lengthen. On the occasion of the National Day of Reflection on Organ Donation and Transplantation, the Biomedicine Agency warns of the health situation and calls for mobilization.
In a press release dated June 15, the Biomedicine Agency returns to the need for organ and tissue donations in France and calls for “a mobilization more than ever necessary” because since the health crisis, donations are becoming increasingly rare.
An activity weakened by the health crisis
In 2019, harvesting and transplant activity increased by 1.6% compared to 2018, with 5,897 transplants. But in 2020, donations are much smaller since the arrival of Covid-19.
Sanitary restrictions got the better of the activity of the removal and the transplant: “Despite the tireless commitment of health professionals”it experienced a drop of 25%, with 4,417 transplants performed.
A “national priority”
In March 2021, the Biomedicine Agency had already proposed recommendations to support the continuation of harvesting and transplant activities in the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic. “Thanks to the strong mobilization of healthcare professionals and their ability to adapt, activity started to rise again in 2021, with 5,276 transplants performed, an increase of 19.3% compared to the previous year.notes the press release.
For the Biomedicine Agency, the removal and transplantation of organs and tissues constitute a real public health issue, a “national priority”. This name appears in an express legislative provision of the Public Health Code.
“It is together, with and for patients, that we must mobilize to strengthen transplantation in France” recalls Emmanuelle Cortot-Boucher, Director General of the Biomedicine Agency.
Substantial means
Faced with this challenge, the French State has allocated significant financial resources to this branch of medicine. In March 2022, the Ministry of Health and Solidarity announced the launch of a new ministerial plan 2022-2026 for the removal and transplantation of organs and tissues. He plans “unprecedented means for the benefit of the sector”explains the Biomedicine Agency in its press release.
“Additional funding of 210 million euros is planned over 5 years, which will bring the nation’s effort to 2 billion euros for the benefit of organ and tissue removal and transplant activities over the duration of the plan”notes the Biomedicine Agency.
In addition, the plan provides for innovative measures and priority areas, in particular the maintenance of appropriate communication on the mobilization of citizens.