What is Eurotransplant?

Belgium is a member of Eurotransplant, an international organization that coordinates organ allocation and transplantation across several European countries.

Founded in 1967 by Professor J.J. Van Rood, Eurotransplant is a non-profit organization headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands. Its mission is to ensure that donated organs are allocated fairly and efficiently, giving patients the best possible chance of receiving a compatible transplant.

The organization coordinates organ donation and transplantation in eight European countries:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Germany
• Hungary
• Luxembourg
• The Netherlands
• Slovenia

By sharing organs across borders, Eurotransplant increases the likelihood of finding the most suitable recipient while making the best possible use of every donated organ.

The main responsibilities of Eurotransplant include:

1. Waiting List Management
   Eurotransplant maintains a centralized waiting list for each transplantable organ, including the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, and intestines. Patients are registered by their transplant physicians. Organ allocation is based on medical criteria such as blood and tissue compatibility, the urgency of the transplant, the severity of the patient’s condition, waiting time, and other clinical factors.
2. Organ Allocation
   Organs are allocated using transparent medical algorithms designed to ensure fairness while maximizing the likelihood of a successful transplant. The medical, serological, and administrative information of all patients on the waiting list is centralized at Eurotransplant’s headquarters in Leiden, where the most suitable recipient is identified whenever a donor organ becomes available.
3. Research and Education
   Eurotransplant supports scientific research and contributes to the education of healthcare professionals. By collecting and sharing clinical data and research findings, the organization helps improve transplantation practices and patient outcomes.
4. International Cooperation
   Eurotransplant works closely with healthcare authorities and transplant organizations throughout Europe to promote organ donation and facilitate cross-border transplantation. This cooperation is especially valuable in rare or urgent situations, such as finding a compatible donor for a newborn or a patient with uncommon medical characteristics.
5. How Eurotransplant Operates
   Whenever a potential organ donor is identified within a Eurotransplant member country, the local transplant coordinator notifies Eurotransplant and provides the donor’s medical information. Once the most appropriate recipient has been identified, Eurotransplant informs the transplant coordinator at the receiving hospital and provides all relevant logistical information, including:
   • Organ retrieval time
   • Distance between donor and recipient
   • Transportation arrangements
   • Estimated delivery times
   After the transplant has been successfully completed, the transplant coordinator reports the procedure to Eurotransplant, and the recipient is removed from the waiting list.

Although organ allocation is coordinated internationally, Belgium gives priority to Belgian patients for certain organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, and pancreas. These organs are only offered to another Eurotransplant country when there is no suitable Belgian recipient or when another country has a patient with an exceptional level of medical urgency. Likewise, Belgium may receive organs from other member countries when Belgian patients require urgent transplantation.

This international cooperation and solidarity help ensure that donated organs are used as effectively as possible while reducing waiting-list mortality across all participating countries.