Nicosia: The cooperation between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel in organ transplants is excellent, Head of the Transplant Centre at the Nicosia General Hospital, Nephrologist Dr. Andreas Soloukidis, has told CNA.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Dr. Soloukidis, who is also Vice President of the Cyprus Transplant Council, highlighted a recent case where the organ donation of a young Cypriot woman, who lost her life in a traffic accident, led to five people receiving life-saving transplants. Teams from Cyprus, Greece, and Israel worked together, ensuring the recipients are in good health.
Dr. Soloukidis explained that this successful heart transplant to a 45-year-old woman in Israel was the result of a longstanding agreement between the Ministry of Health and the National Transplant Organizations of Israel and Greece. This agreement facilitates the allocation of organs that Cyprus cannot transplant due to its small population, prioritizing Greece and then Israel, with the option to donate to other European countries if necessary.
Last week's transplants involved four teams: the Onassis Hospital in Athens for the lungs, a hospital in Israel for the heart, Ippokrateion General Hospital of Thessaloniki for the liver, and a team from Cyprus for the kidneys. All recipients, including two in Cyprus, are in excellent condition following the transplants.
Dr. Soloukidis noted that the cooperation with these countries has strengthened over recent years, especially with Israel, which has received multiple heart and lung transplants. Approximately 50% of liver transplants, not accepted by Greece, are sent to Israel.
He emphasized that this collaboration benefits Cypriot patients as well, as those needing transplants not performed in Cyprus are placed on the waiting lists in Greece or Israel. This year, Cyprus has conducted 19 kidney transplants, with more planned, and typically has around ten posthumous donors annually.
Dr. Soloukidis expressed the Transplant Council's goal to increase potential donors, aiming for Cyprus to rank higher in the EU. He also mentioned that Cyprus ranks high in Europe for living donors, with aspirations to improve further in both donor categories.