While organ transplantation is increasingly used as medical treatment, the main factor limiting its application remains the shortage of available organs.
Kidneys are the most frequently transplanted organ and help patients with end-stage kidney disease. Other frequently transplanted organs include livers, lungs and hearts, while the small bowel and the pancreas can also be transplanted, and new types of transplantation are continuously being developed.
All organs can be donated after death, while living donors can donate a kidney as well as a part of their liver.
The European Commission provides funding for Actions in the area of SoHO mainly in the form of projects or joint actions with national authorities. Actions aim at supporting the EU mandate on safety and quality, but can also serve to promote other policy priorities, such as improving the availability of SOHO or the efficiency of the health systems that support donation and supply.
The European Commission has been supporting National Competent Authorities (NCA) by facilitating the sharing of information among them, including guidance from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in particular during the COVID-19 crisis. The European Commission plans further EC actions to continue supporting the Organs sector, mainly on two dimensions:
- Support EU Countries and comply with the reporting obligation set in the Directive.
- Support the sector via EU4Health grants and financial support to expert bodies.
Legislation
The legal framework defining the standards for organ transplantation is set out in Action Plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation (2009-2015): Strengthened Cooperation between Member States assists EU countries in addressing the shortage of organs, enhancing transplant systems and improving the quality and safety of transplant products. It has set a common direction for EU countries to strengthen their national transplant activities and served as the basis for many EU-funded actions. Over its period of implementation, 2009-2015, EU countries increased activities by 4,600 additional transplants per year.
