Global leader Spain carries out its 100,000th transplant
Spain performed its 100,000th transplant to maintain its crown at the top of the global transplant rankings.
The 100,000th transplant took place in Dr. Peset Hospital in Valencia, during the first fortnight of February. The kidney transplant went without a hitch, according to the National Transplant Organization (ONT).
The landmark transplant recalls "100,000 moments of anguish; 100,000 moments of happiness and 100,000 new opportunities", according to the head of the ONT, Rafael Matesanz.
"It is a figure that shows the enormous effort of Spanish society, of the donors and their families as well as the Spanish health system," he told Europa Press.
"It is worth the effort to remind and encourage people to continue to make these little miracles that are transplants possible."
Of the 100,000: 62,967 were kidney transplants, 23,881 liver, 7,616 heart, 3,824 lungs, 1,703 pancreas and 125 intestines.
But not content to rest on their laurels, the ONT wants to double that figure within the next 15 years.
"It won’t be necessary to wait another 50 years," said Matesanz, referring to the time between the first ever transplant in Spain and the 100,000th.
Spain has been the global leader in organ donations and transplants for the past 24 years. The country beat its own organ donation record in 2014 with a total of 4,360 organ donations.
Spain also saw 36 donors per million people in 2014 - equal to 1,682 donors - "far superior" to the European Union figure of 19, health authorities said of the 2014 results.
That also put Spain far ahead of other countries, with 26 donors per million people in the US, 25 in France and a tad under 15 in Germany, according to the transplant body's latest figures from 2011.
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The 100,000th transplant took place in Dr. Peset Hospital in Valencia, during the first fortnight of February. The kidney transplant went without a hitch, according to the National Transplant Organization (ONT).
The landmark transplant recalls "100,000 moments of anguish; 100,000 moments of happiness and 100,000 new opportunities", according to the head of the ONT, Rafael Matesanz.
"It is a figure that shows the enormous effort of Spanish society, of the donors and their families as well as the Spanish health system," he told Europa Press.
"It is worth the effort to remind and encourage people to continue to make these little miracles that are transplants possible."
Of the 100,000: 62,967 were kidney transplants, 23,881 liver, 7,616 heart, 3,824 lungs, 1,703 pancreas and 125 intestines.
But not content to rest on their laurels, the ONT wants to double that figure within the next 15 years.
"It won’t be necessary to wait another 50 years," said Matesanz, referring to the time between the first ever transplant in Spain and the 100,000th.
Spain has been the global leader in organ donations and transplants for the past 24 years. The country beat its own organ donation record in 2014 with a total of 4,360 organ donations.
Spain also saw 36 donors per million people in 2014 - equal to 1,682 donors - "far superior" to the European Union figure of 19, health authorities said of the 2014 results.
That also put Spain far ahead of other countries, with 26 donors per million people in the US, 25 in France and a tad under 15 in Germany, according to the transplant body's latest figures from 2011.
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