The number of post-mortem donors per million inhabitants in the Netherlands was the lowest last year of the seven countries that are part of the Eurotransplant. The organization announced this and more in its 2008 annual report.
In Belgium, that number was twice as high, making it the highest of all European countries. Belgium has a relatively high number of accident victims among its donors, compared to other countries.
When living donors are also included, the number of donors per million inhabitants in the Netherlands is high again. This is because in 2008 there were twice as many living donors as deceased donors. But of course much fewer organs are used, in almost all cases that is only a kidney.
On December 31, 2008, in all Eurotransplant countries together, more than eleven thousand people were on the waiting list for a kidney, whether or not in combination with another organ. That was slightly less than in 2007.
