MEP Jill Evans Supports Donate Wales and Tell A Loved One Campaign

Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru) said:

"I fully support the Donate Wales - Tell a Loved One Campaign. There is a Wales and Europe wide shortage of donor organs and Europe wide co-operation could help deal with that problem. Having a voluntary Europe wide register which complements existing provisions could certainly broaden the pool of potential donors and help save lives.

"The new proposals at EU level include a European organ donor card and measures to tackle organ trafficking and what has been described as 'transplant tourism'. It makes sense for there to be co-operation on this issue at European level, and lives may saved as a result."

MEPs heard that whilst the use of human organs for transplant has increased over recent years, the number of people requiring a transplant is now greater than the number of organs available. They voted to approve a number of proposals including a Europe wide organ donor card complementary to national systems, measures to ensure organ donations remain non-commercial and measures to combat organ trafficking.