Belgium has witnessed a notable rise in the number of people registering for organ donation after death, as reflected in the 2023 annual report from the federal database Orgadon.
The increase highlights growing awareness and acceptance of organ donation, with more individuals making explicit consent declarations for transplants, drug manufacturing, and scientific research.
Under Belgium’s unique organ donation system, consent is not required for organ donation after death, as the law presumes all individuals as potential donors.
However, citizens are given the option to opt-out or provide explicit consent. According to the Orgadon report, more Belgians are actively choosing to register their consent to donate their organs in the event of their death.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2023, the number of explicit consent declarations saw a substantial rise. The most significant growth was observed in the area of organ transplantation, reflecting the increasing willingness of individuals to contribute to saving lives after death.
There was also a smaller but noticeable increase in consents for drug manufacturing and medical research purposes. These donations play a crucial role in advancing medical treatments and therapies.
Although there was an increase in the number of individuals opting out of organ donation, the growth in explicit consents far outpaced the rise in opposition.
This suggests a growing trend of people choosing to be part of Belgium’s organ donation system. Orgadon’s database now contains detailed information on both living and deceased donors, tracking their willingness, consent, or opposition to donation.
Notably, the 2023 report reveals that more than eight out of ten registered donors are living donors. This is a consistent trend from previous years, indicating that Belgians are increasingly willing to donate organs during their lifetime, often in cases of medical necessity for close family members or individuals in need.
In terms of deceased donors, Orgadon reported that over six out of ten are aged over 55 years old. This reflects a broader demographic trend, as Belgium’s aging population continues to impact the pool of available deceased donors.
Despite this, the proportion of effective deceased donors—those who successfully contribute organs for transplantation—has seen a slight increase, which experts attribute to improved medical practices and organ preservation techniques.
The Orgadon report also highlighted the growing prominence of the database itself, which has played a role in encouraging more Belgians to consider and formalize their choices regarding organ donation.
The increase in registrations for both transplants and scientific research suggests that the public is increasingly aware of the potential impact their decisions can have on the lives of others and the development of new medical treatments.
The rise in organ donation registrations in Belgium is a positive development for the country’s healthcare system, which has long relied on a strong network of donors to meet the needs of transplant patients.
With more people voluntarily opting to donate, the prospect of improving survival rates and advancing medical research has never been brighter.
As the number of registrations continues to rise, Belgium is making significant strides toward ensuring that more lives are saved through the generosity of organ donors.
The ongoing awareness campaigns and the ease of registration via the Orgadon system are key factors in driving this success.
