ACTOR: mid-term review on the set-up of the Action plan on Transplantation and Organ donation in the EU Member States, 2012-2013

Duration: Jan 2012 - Mar 2013

Background
In recent years, the number of organ transplants has increased and has become a common practice in medicine. Organ transplantation is crucial for the treatment of certain conditions. Despite this, there is a shortage of organ donors across Europe. To this end, the European Union drew up an action plan in 2009: Action Plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation (2009-2015): Strengthened Cooperation between Member States. This plan describes a number of action points that can help Member States to reduce the shortage of organ donors. In addition, the action points focus on the quality and safety of organ donation procedures. Three years after adoption of the action plan, the European Union is curious about the degree of implementation of the plan.

Aims
The research questions of this project are:
- What efforts have been made so far for the 'Action Plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation (2009-2015): Strengthened Cooperation between Member States'?
- To what extent has this plan been implemented at both EU level and the individual EU Member States?
Producten en dienstenMethods

Project participants
35 countries (all 27 EU member states as well as Iceland, Norway, Croatia, Macedonia (fYRoM), Switzerland, Turkey, Liechtenstein and Montenegro)

Methods
A systematic review of both scientific and non-scientific sources is carried out, supplemented by consultation of European contacts by means of a questionnaire and an online database. The basis for this are existing action indicators for organ donation, which will be evaluated. This can reveal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT).

Results
The study provides insight into the extent to which the European member states have implemented the action plan during the first half of the term. Based on this insight, recommendations will be formulated for the further implementation of the action plan.