Released 24/01/2019
More Canberrans are saying yes to organ donation than ever before, with 67 people receiving a life-saving transplant last year.
The Organ and Tissue Authority 2018 Organ Donation and Transplantation Outcomes Report shows that the ACT recorded an organ donation rate per million population (dpmp) of 32.4, compared with the national average of 22.2 dpmp.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Meegan Fitzharris said there had been a 50 per cent increase in ACT donors since 2017, with a total of 21 donors in 2018.
While there was natural variation from year to year in the ACT, the trend was encouraging and compared very favourably with the national improvements.
“Due to the generosity of the donors and their families, over 60 people received a life-saving donation and transplantation last year,” Minister Fitzharris said.
“The ACT has a very high consent rate at 75 per cent. But with 1,400 Australians currently waitlisted for a transplant and about 12,000 people on dialysis, there is always more that we can do.
“If you haven’t already, I encourage you to register your decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register, it only takes a minute.”
The Minister said it was important that Canberrans shared their donation decisions with family and loved ones.
“We know that families who have discussed their decision in advance are much more likely to uphold the wish of the would-be donor,” Minister Fitzharris said.
- Statement ends -
Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases
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