Paphos:The Ministry of Health in Cyprus is advancing its National Action Plan for transplantation, aiming to strengthen the sector's institutional framework and develop an integrated information system for related registries, as stated by Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides.

According to Cyprus News Agency, during an event in Paphos marking the 25th European Day for Organ, Tissue and Cell Donation, the Minister announced plans for training intensive care specialists in Madrid. This initiative, in collaboration with Spain's National Transplant Organization and the Spanish Ministry of Health, will focus on the identification and management of potential organ donors.

To date, Cyprus has conducted 1,171 kidney transplants with the involvement of 1,108 organ donors, and provided 181 grafts to other countries through international cooperation. The Karaiskakio Foundation's Bone Marrow Donor Registry lists over 200,000 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot volunteers, with more than 1,000 having donated stem cells to patients in 36 countries.

The Minister emphasized the necessity of boosting organ donation, citing Council of Europe statistics that show over 100,000 patients in member states await transplants, with more than 8,000 dying on waiting lists. He stressed the importance of a healthcare system that inspires public trust, maintains strict quality and safety standards, and allocates organs transparently and objectively.

Protecting the health and dignity of donors and recipients, alongside supporting families of deceased donors, is a priority. The Ministry plans to expand the network of transplant coordinators in hospitals and provide ongoing training to medical personnel, which includes targeted training for intensive care specialists in Madrid aimed at enhancing expertise in donor management.

The Health Minister acknowledged the collaboration with the Hellenic Republic and the Hellenic Transplant Organisation to expand patient treatment options, and noted the potential benefits of partnerships with other countries for transplants not performed in Cyprus.

Charalambides also highlighted cooperation with the Council of Europe and the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (EDQM), which assists in implementing quality and safety standards and exchanging expertise.

On the European Day for Organ Donation, the Ministry prioritized providing scientifically backed information to the public and addressing misinformation. The Minister urged discussions on posthumous organ donation with families to ensure wishes are known in advance.

Expressing gratitude to donors and healthcare professionals, the Minister noted that while donation does not erase loss, it offers hope and life to others, embodying the message 'Sharing Lives'.