Spain Beats Its Own Record for Organ Donations, Transplants

CRI | Xinjua

Spain beat its own record for the number of organ donations and transplants during 2011, according to a report released by the country's National Organization of Transplants (ONT) on Tuesday.

The director of the ONT Rafael Matesanz said that in 2011 there had been 1,557 organ donations and 4,218 transplant operations carried out in the country, which saw over 500 more transplants than in the previous year.

Matesanz highlighted the importance of the "Guide for Good Practices" in organ transplants in improving the figures.

The Guide is a pioneering document drawn up by the ONT which highlights the need to extend the culture of organ donation in hospitals and co-ordination between hospitals, emergency services and other bodies, with the aim of optimizing efficiency in donations.

According to the report, the majority of organ donors, or 53.7 percent of the total, is aged over 60.