European organ transplantation: a real challenge

Thousands of patients throughout Europe undergo organ generally remain within Europe. However, it must be noted transplantation each year. This raises two questions from a that, in the field of organ transplantation, few organs are European perspective. The first regards the possible impact actually exchanged. This is mainly due to the general of the European construction on procurement and transorgan shortage. At the same time, patients living in areas plantation and the second, probably more unusual, regards with low procurement rates (such as southern Italy during the possible influence of procurement and grafts on the the 1980s) often seek transplantation in large numbers in European construction. other countries, such as France or Belgium. Our intention is to show that, contrary to common As far as regulation is concerned, there is currently no expectations, transplantation may be more useful to Europe European law or directive on the subject, nor does a than Europe is useful for transplantation. European body in charge of procurement and graft coordination and exchanges exist. However, despite the lack of common regulations, a European dimension of procure1. Is there a European dimension to transplantation? ment and transplantation is likely to develop in the near future, as demonstrated by the following examples: From an epidemiological point of view, common trends can be identified in most European countries with regard to • Grafts are specifically mentioned in article 152 (ex cerebral death prevalence and morbidity related to diseases article 129) of the Amsterdam treaty, thus offering many leading to transplantation indications. opportunities for developing measures at the European While facing similar problems, the various health care level. This point broadens the European field of compesystems have developed different responses. These differtence in health, traditionally restricted to preventive ences are most noticeable in policies regarding regional policies, and needs to be emphasized; planning, the establishment of hospital programs related to • In the related field of tissue banking, the European procurement and transplantation, and the number of teams Ethics Group in Science and New Technologies to the performing these activities. The mix between public and European Commission recently adopted an opinion on private sector participation also varies from one country to ethical aspects, focusing on the need for common high the next, as does the type of procurement organization. standards in safety and ethics. Clearly, this also has Procurement may be the responsibility of a national public implications for organ transplantation. agency, as in France, Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, or of a private body operating nationally, as in Switzerland, or it may be the responsibility of several 2. What can Europe do for transplantation? countries at a European level, such as Eurotransplant, which includes Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Three main areas need to be addressed: ethics, graft and the Netherlands. availability, and safety. In terms of exchanges, patients, organs, tissues, and cells As far as ethical issues are concerned, harmonization efforts at the European level are likely to promote a high *Tel.: 133-44-67-5599; fax: 133-44-67-5555. 1 level of ethical standards. Some countries, such as France, A work from the Etablissement Francais des Greffes, 5, Rue Lacuee, 75012 Paris, France. by passing the so-called ‘Bioethics’ laws of July 23, 1994