Onassis
HealthNational Initiative for Organ Donation and Transplantation
Photo: Dimitris Papamitsos

The Onassis Foundation delivers to the Greek State the National Plan for Solid Organ Donation and Transplantation

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In 2019, the Onassis Foundation assigned the elaboration of the report on the National Plan for Solid Organ Donation and Transplantation to a research team from the London School of Economics, in cooperation with the Imperial College London, led by Professors Elias Mossialos and Vassilios Papalois. Two years later, on July 6, 2021, this National Plan report is ready and delivered to the State. For a new beginning in transplantations; to save even more lives.

Almost 30 years ago, the creation of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center by the Onassis Foundation transformed the healthcare landscape in our country. Today, the Onassis Foundation aims at transforming the healthcare landscape in Greece once again, adopting a holistic approach and leaving its mark in the field of solid organ donation and transplantation. Through a National Initiative, it builds new infrastructure for transplantations, invests in innovation, boosts the National Health System structures, helps develop scientific research and carries out citizen information and awareness-raising actions.

Our efforts focus on the creation of the Onassis National Transplant Center (ONTC), a cutting-edge transplant center that is open to everybody. Its delivery to the Greek State is expected to happen in 2024. However, infrastructure alone is not enough to elicit change in the transplantation landscape in our country. Further actions are required; actions that will provide a solid foundation for the rebuilding of this sector. First of all, an institutional framework for an integrated national transplant policy is necessary for the operation not only of this specific hospital, but of the entire Greek donation and transplantation network.

In this context, two years ago, the Onassis Foundation, having first assured cross-party consent, assigned the elaboration of the report on the National Plan for Organ Donation and Transplantation to the London School of Economics (LSE), in cooperation with the Imperial College London, headed by Professors Elias Mossialos and Vassilios Papalois, who are in charge of a team of distinguished Greek and foreign scientists. The report on the National Transplantation Plan in our country is ready. It is now delivered to the State and the next step is to make it an official law of the State. It is a pioneering scientific piece of work at a global level, an outstanding and comprehensive report that can become the road map for transplantations in Greece in the following years.

The delivery of the National Plan to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, the President of the Onassis Foundation, Anthony Papadimitriou, visited Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to hand in the report on the National Plan for Solid Organ Donation and Transplantation. A two-year effort has reached its end.

“Today, we delivered to the Prime Minister the National Plan for Solid Organ Donation and Transplantation. It is a comprehensive report prepared by a team of distinguished Greek and foreign scientists, led by Professors Elias Mossialos and Vassilios Papalois. Thanks to this report, and as the construction of the Onassis National Transplant Center (ONTC) is in progress, our country now has a National Transplantation Plan which places at its very heart people, physicians, nurses and patients. The Onassis Foundation has undertaken a National Initiative and adopted a holistic approach, envisaging a new era for organ donation and transplantation. To save even more lives.”, stated Anthony Papadimitriou after the meeting.

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    Photo: Andreas Simopoulos

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    Photo: Dimitris Papamitsos

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    Photo: Dimitris Papamitsos

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    Photo: Dimitris Papamitsos

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    Photo: Dimitris Papamitsos

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    Photo: Andreas Simopoulos

The current alarming situation

In Europe, every 9 minutes a new patient is added to the national transplant waiting lists. At the same time, every year, 6,500 people die while being on the waiting list.

In Greece, the situation is equally disheartening:

  • More than 1,300 of our fellow citizens are on the transplant waiting list.
  • 11,500 renal patients in our country are on dialysis.
  • 25% of them will die within the 1st year.
  • The median waiting time for a kidney transplant is 8.8 years.
  • When it comes to transplantations, Greece is one of the lowest ranking countries in Europe.
  • Many lives are lost every year; family, friends, loved ones.

The National Plan provides, among others, for the following:

  • transforming the National Transplant Organisation into an Independent Authority with a country-wide reach;
  • boosting the available infrastructure;
  • special reimbursement for healthcare staff;
  • transplant coordinators available in all hospitals with ICU;
  • education and certification of coordinators as per the European standards;
  • use of telemedicine technology and electronic health records to facilitate the follow-up of patients who live in remote locations.
In this way, care becomes patient-centered and, at the same time, public confidence in the Health System of Transplantations is built.
Click here to download the Summary of the National Plan for Solid Organ Donation and Transplantation
Click here to download the Key Points of the National Plan for Solid Organ Donation and Transplantation

For more information, contact: mediaoffice-health@onassis.org

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