Last year, 4,086 effective donors were accounted for, below 4,129 registered in 2023
Brazil broke record of transplants in 2024. There were 30,300 procedures last year, an increase of 5.5% compared to 2023, when 28,700 were made. Despite the increase, the country still has 78,000 people waiting in line by an organ, according to a balance released on Wednesday, 4, by. At the data presentation event, the portfolio drew attention to the need to expand in the number of donors, which fell in 2024. Last year, 4,086 effective donors were accounted for, below 4,129 registered in 2023. “Our focus is on reducing the resignation of donation by the family,” said Alexandre Padilha, adding that there is currently a refusal of 45% of families in the donation of bodies. More than 90% of transplants are made by the Unified Health System (SUS). The main procedures performed were corneal (17.107), kidney (6,320), bone marrow (3 743) and liver (2,454). The others were not discriminated against by the ministry.
The folder also detailed the most demanded bodies:
- 42,838 people wait for a kidney;
- 32,349 people await corneal transplantation;
- 2,387 expect to receive a liver.
Measures to expand transplants
The ministry announced that, from 2026, it should allocate R $ 20 million per year to finance teams responsible for interviewing family members of possible donors. The goal is to improve the training of these professionals to expand the conviction of families and, consequently, the number of organs available in the system. The initiative is in formulation and is due to be released in September. “The Brazilian family is solidarity. If the Brazilian family is adequately interviewed and understands the process of brain death, it donates,” said Patrícia Freire, general coordinator of the National Transplant System.
In addition to the formation of the teams, the folder decided to readjust the amount paid at least 81% to subsidize the purchase of substances used in organ preservation. According to the minister, the amount was outdated for 20 years. Padilha did not report the amount invested in this case. “With this readjustment we were able to ensure the best use of these organs, and make a larger number of transplants,” said the minister. The ministry will also expand awareness campaigns on organ donation. Currently, about 30 to 35% of the available organs are in fact used. Among the reasons for the low index are not only storage issues, but also incompatibility between donor and receiver and clinical contraindications.
Posted by Luisa Cardoso
*With information from Estadão do Content
