Stakeholders appeal for more kidney donations in Europe

Besides immeasurably improving the quality of life of patients with chronic kidney disease, an increase in kidney donations would lead to major savings for financially strapped health services, the European Kidney Health Alliance says.

With 250 000 patients in Europe on dialysis and 60 000 on the waiting list for a renal transplant, the alliance, a not for profit group of organisations that represent the key stakeholders in kidney health in Europe (www.ekha.eu), has appealed for an increase in the number of transplantations from deceased and living donors. Currently 18 000 take place each year.

Daniel Abramowicz, professor of medicine in the nephrology department of …