They ask for reactivation of the transplant program in Venezuela on World Organ Donation Day

On World Organ Donation Day, The National Transplant Organization of Venezuela (ONTV) reiterated its call for the reactivation of the Organ and Tissue Procurement System programsuspended by the national government for more than seven years.

In an interview for the program A Tiempo que Transmite Radio Unionthe ONTV medical advisor, Anabela Arminio, highlighted that the State has had two pending tasks for years: the reactivation of the organ transplant program for deceased people and the expansion of the programs for living donors.

He pointed out that although it is a complex, complicated and long task, we must start working on it to be able to help the hundreds of people in Venezuela who require a transplant to continue living.

Transplant program for living donors is limited

The living donor transplant program in the public sector that remains in operation is very limited in scope because the procedures are only carried out at the Clínica Popular del Paraíso in the city of Caracas, he explained.

“Not every country that requires a transplant has a living donor, on the one hand, and on the other, not everyone can come to Caracas,” said Arminio.

He indicated that although organ transplant programs are very expensive, keeping patients on dialysis also represents a considerable expense and the quality of life of citizens is lower.

The head of the nephrology service at the University Hospital of Caracas highlighted that previously the transplant centers were located in public hospitals, which facilitated access to the entire population.

Regarding the capacity of the workers, he maintained that New personnel must be trained for the procurement area and for the transplant activity and follow-up of the transplanted patient. because many of the trained personnel have left the country.