Australian organ donations at record levels
17% year-on-year rise in life-saving transplants in 2016.
2016 was a fortuitous year for Australian organ recipients, owing to the generosity of more than 500 deceased donors and their families.
A record 1,448 Aussies received a life-saving transplant last year, a 17% increase over 2015 figures.
This was helped by a 16% year-on-year increase in the number of deceased organ donors.
Since the beginning of the national reform program in 2009 there has been an 81% rise in the number of transplant recipients, while the number of deceased organ donors has more than doubled.
There were also 267 living donors in 2016, representing a 9% year-on-year rise.
These comprised two liver donors and 265 kidney donors, including 44 donations through the Australian Paired Kidney Exchange (AKX) program.
AKX helps match patients with willing donors, assisting in 198 successful kidney transplants since 2010.
"The decision to donate is one of the most selfless acts, not only for the person receiving a lifesaving transplant but their families, friends and the communities they live in," Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ken Wyatt said.
The 2016 Australian Donation and Transplantation Activity Report will be released in February.
You can list your intentions on the Australian Organ Donor Register.
From the beginning of 2017 the French government changed its laws to make every French citizen a presumed organ and tissue donor unless they add their names to a National Register of Refusal.
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