As chair of Canadian Blood Services’ board of directors, I join the Times Colonist in congratulating the provincial Ministry of Health, the B.C. organ donation and transplantation community and the many B.C. residents who have declared their intent to be an organ donor (“Be more open on transplants,” editorial, Feb. 9).
Great strides have been made in helping save more lives, and teamwork is at the heart of these ongoing improvements. Inspiring participation is essential, as it cannot be done alone.
This is why governments turned to Canadian Blood Services in 2008 as a pan-Canadian leader and trusted partner in health care to work with provinces and territories, like B.C., to enhance the organ-donation and transplantation system for all Canadians. As the Times Colonist notes, there is still work to be done to meet the needs of all patients.
Compared with the U.K., whose donor rate has grown to 20 donors per million population in a few years, or leading countries such as Spain, whose donor rate is 35 donors per million, Canada’s rate is slowly improving at 15 donors per million. The donor rate in B.C. has also improved to about 13 donors per million.
Co-ordinated activities are needed to improve all programs in Canada. Studies of national and international improvements have been conducted, and several features of high-performing systems are evolving in various provinces, but ongoing investment and collaboration are key to ensuring services reach their full potential.
Since 2008, Canadian Blood Services has been working with governments and organ donation and transplantation stakeholders on a national improvement strategy to increase the number of life-saving organ transplants. For example, the Living Donor Paired Exchange Registry, which supports improved matches for kidney patients, has already facilitated more than 250 kidney transplants in Canada.
Interprovincial programs and services are in place or evolving. One leading practice report recommended adding donation specialists throughout the province to keep donation top of mind and refer donors. The province of B.C. has initiated this service with notable results.
While working within a national context can be challenging, as health care is managed provincially, Canadian Blood Services is a 15-year example of successful national collaboration in action. All Canadian patients, including those in B.C., should benefit from the same service, quality and access to health care regardless of where they live.
As Canadians, we are three times more likely to need an organ transplant than to be an organ donor. We can all help by deciding to donate, registering our choice through our provincial organ-donation registry and informing our loved ones of our wishes.
Whether we communicate our wishes on social media or suggest joining a provincial registry in lieu of flowers, it is most important for us to document our decisions and start talking about them.
Leah Hollins is chairwoman of the board of directors of Canadian Blood Services.
