There are 128 patients on the waiting list for organ transplantation

“Our knowledge of the immune system has made it possible to develop effective therapies that improve the life expectancy and quality of donor organ recipients. However, despite these technological advances, the key to the success of transplantation is the willingness to share the most precious thing – the chance to give someone a life. Therefore, I invite everyone to consider their decision to organ donation, realizing its importance for people for whom it may be the only hope and a new start in life,” she says.

Jānis Vilmanis, acting head of the National Transplantation Coordination Service, also states that transplantation is one of the greatest achievements in modern medicine, which can save a person’s life and significantly improve the quality of life compared to what was before. However, he admits that this process is entirely dependent on the donors and their family members to make this life-saving donation.

In Latvia, organ transplantation is a 100% state-paid treatment and is provided by the Latvian Transplantation Center in cooperation with the specialists of the liver, heart and cornea transplant unit.

Organ transplantation is the best, or even the only, treatment for end-stage organ failure. It provides an opportunity to save life in situations where there are no other equivalent treatment options.

PSKUS reminds that organ donation is possible both during life and after death. It is possible to donate one kidney and part of a liver during life. On the other hand, after death, a person can save the lives of at least eight other people or restore people’s quality of life by donating two kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, intestines, pancreas, small intestines, corneas, bones and tendons. Heart, liver, kidney and cornea transplants are provided at Stradiņš hospital.

Every citizen of the country has the opportunity to express his wish for organ donation after his death by making an appropriate mark on the website of the state E-health system “www.eveseliba.gov.lv” or by verbally informing his closest people so that this responsibility is not left on the shoulders of his relatives.