National Initiative for Organ Donation and Transplantation
Guided by a vision to breathe new life into the organ transplantation sector but also to further develop the organ donation culture, the Onassis Foundation is transforming once again the healthcare landscape in Greece through the implementation of a National Initiative in collaboration with the Hellenic Transplant Organization (HTO) and the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center (OCSC).
Photo: Pinelopi Gerasimou
We become links in the chain of life.
We are transforming once again the healthcare landscape in Greece.
Despite the occasional awareness campaigns and isolated efforts made within the healthcare system, organ donation in Greece remains substantially limited. The waiting list of patients in need for a transplant is long and the chances of finding a compatible transplant are very slim. Ignorance, bias and a hostile health system are the key inhibitors obstructing the progress of transplantations in our country.
Against this backdrop, the Onassis Foundation has been breathing new life into organ donation and transplantation in Greece, supporting the work of the Greek State and contributing to the transformation of the organ transplantation sector by undertaking the development and implementation of a 5-year strategic plan, the so called National Initiative. A holistic approach to organ donation and transplantation related actions is adopted, consisting of:- a new hospital, as well the OCSC’s digital transformation;
- advancement and development of human resources;
- change of the institutional framework;
- awareness-raising among citizens.
For the Onassis Foundation, each initiative related to the upgrade of transplant care, but also to the development of organ donation in the country, is part of larger set of actions: the so-called Chain of Life.
The ONTC is expected to act as a catalyst in developing the country’s transplantation activities, offering support to existing units by creating a strong nationwide transplant network. Boasting cutting-edge technology worth € 30,000.000, the ONTC will be a state-of-the-art construction project, with a total budget of € 100,000,000. Together with the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, in 2024 they will become the first 100% digital hospitals in Greece and two of the first fully digitized hospitals in Europe.
The continuous training of healthcare professionals, delivered in cooperation with the Hellenic Transplantation Organization and the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, lies at the heart of the National Initiative. We invest in Scholarship Programs that advance knowledge in the area of organ donation and transplantation. We support the role of Transplant Coordinators (TCs), by covering the salary of 7 Coordinators for 3 years. We organize Transplant Masterclasses to allow scientific staff to deepen their knowledge by learning all about future trends in transplantation. Finally, we contribute to the training of medical and nursing staff by localizing the Eudonorgan e-learning platform.
In 2019, acknowledging the need for a new, more effective national transplantation strategy, in collaboration with the State and having obtained almost full cross-party consensus, assigned to the London School of Economics, in cooperation with the Imperial College London, the elaboration of a report on the National Plan for Organ Donation and Transplantation/ The research team was headed by two distinguished Greek scientists, Professors Elias Mossialos and Vassilios Papalois. Two years later, on July 6, 2021, the full report on the National Plan was delivered to the State. For a new beginning in transplantations; to save even more lives.
In March 2023, the new bill on organ donation and transplantation in Greece, which was based on this report, was passed by a large majority in the Greek Parliament.
For the Onassis Foundation, health equals culture. This is why, with the support of the Onassis Foundation Management and the collaboration of the HTO and the OCSC, a set of awareness-raising projects and communication actions has been developed, aiming at informing citizens and raising awareness. Through the Organmeetings awareness seminars, we debunk myths and share the truth on organ donation and transplantation, leaving no room for fear in our lives. At the same time, since 2021, via the Orgamites educational program. we have shared the importance of organ donation with more 300 schools, 10,000 pupils and 900 teachers throughout the country. And that’s just the beginning. If there’s something worth celebrating in 2024, that’s life.
Embedded media
If you want to enjoy embedded rich media, please customize your cookie settings to allow for Performance and Targeting cookies. Your data may be transferred to third-party services such as YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud and Issuu.
