Province reports record organ donations and transplants in 2017

Province reports record organ donations and transplants in 2017
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A record 479 lives were saved in B.C. from organ transplants, with a new high in organ donations last year. Photo courtesy CBC.

A record 479 lives were saved in B.C. from organ transplants, with a new high in organ donations last year. Photo courtesy CBC.

The province says organ donations and transplants both hit record-highs in 2017.

The Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Services Authority and B.C. Transplant report a record 479 lives were saved in the province last year, with a 25 per cent increase in deceased organ donors.

There were 121 deceased organ donors in 2017, with 14 in the Island Health District, compared to 97 last year.

That number was as low as 67 in 2013.

The province says the growth is from healthcare teams’ efforts to identify potential donors and support families in choosing organ donation.

The rate of deceased donors in the province increased to 24.9 per million people, up from 20.3 in 2016.

There were also 97 living donor kidney transplants, with two from out-of-province.

Transplants recorded by type in B.C. over the last 6 years.

Transplants recorded by type in B.C. over the last 6 years.

The demand remains high for organ donations with 638 people on the transplant wait list on January 1.

The province says 29 people died while waiting for an organ donation last year, a rise of eight more deaths than in 2016.

Andy NealAndy Neal

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