An Post has launched a special national postage stamp highlighting the importance of organ donation in the lives of people living in Ireland.
Health Minister Simon Harris today (26 March) launched Organ Donation Awareness Week 2019, promising to introduce ground-breaking legislation on organ donation next month.
A total of 274 transplant operations were carried out in Irish hospitals last year and the number of organ donor hospitals reached a new record of 25.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Harris said the impact of Organ Donation Awareness Week was being seen in a significant increase in the number of organ donations.
He said the real challenge is maintaining high levels of organ donation and transplantation throughout the year.
“Organ donation is one of the most selfless acts we can do for others. During Organ Donation Awareness Week, I urge you to not only consider becoming an organ donor, but more importantly, share this intention with your loved ones,” he added.
The Prime Minister also said work was continuing to finalise legal proposals to create an opt-out system for organ donation consent, as part of a Human Tissue Bill due to be introduced in the House of Commons next month.
He said the introduction of the bill would be accompanied by an outreach campaign aimed at raising awareness about organ donation and “encouraging people to make decisions about organ donation and share those decisions with their loved ones.”
The Minister also announced amendments to the policy governing reimbursement for living kidney donors. The policy was introduced to recognise living kidney donors and minimise financial disincentives that may arise for such donors.
The reforms include reimbursing donors for childcare costs that they would not otherwise incur (childcare providers must be registered with Tusla) up to €5,000, reimbursing self-employed donors for costs they incur to employ someone to work for them up to €10,000, and including living liver donors.
Harris added that he is committed to building on the continued success in the field of organ donation and transplantation.
“I want to ensure that Ireland is one of the most successful countries in terms of the number of organ donors, the number of organ transplants performed and the quality of life of organ recipients,” he said.
But he acknowledged that the reality of organ donation and transplantation is that the number of people who die in circumstances that would allow for organ donation is extremely limited.
“Therefore, policymakers and clinicians have an obligation to ensure that all donor opportunities are followed up and, where possible, lead to transplantation,” he continued.
“Increasing organ donation numbers is a prerequisite for increasing organ transplants.”
Meanwhile, An Post has launched a special national stamp highlighting the importance of organ donation to the lives of people living in Ireland.
An Post staffer Andy Kavanagh, one of Ireland's longest surviving heart donors, and double lung transplant recipient David Crosby, who is preparing to run his third full marathon in memory of his donor, gathered at the GPO in Dublin for the launch of the special stamp.
Debbie Byrne, managing director of An Post Retail, said: “The new organ donation stamps will help raise public awareness by sending a simple but important message to customers sending and receiving post: 'Become an organ donor and save a life'.”
An Post has partnered with the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI) to promote organ donation across social media using the hashtag #havethatconversation.
Professor Jim Egan, HSE director of ODTI, said the message was “simple”.
“Organ donation saves lives,” he added. “I'd like to thank An Post for issuing this special stamp, which will raise public awareness of organ donation. Thanks to the generosity of the Irish people, patients can receive the life-saving treatment of organ transplantation.”
contact address
