Organ trade

Illegal organ trade is more sophisticated than one might think - who's behind it and how it could be controlled

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 27, 2023

These reports and cases are part of a global proliferation of the organ trade that started in the late 1980s.

Key Points: 
  • These reports and cases are part of a global proliferation of the organ trade that started in the late 1980s.
  • Despite strategies to enlarge the donor organ pool, the worldwide organ shortage grows every year.
  • I’ve found that claims are made about the organ trade in the absence of factual data.
  • The organ trade is a complex crime and is fuelled by the high demand for organ transplants and rising global inequalities.
  • The root causes of the trade need to be addressed, and stronger responses (not necessarily laws) are needed to tackle the more organised and exploitative forms of the trade.

What is the trade in human organs?

    • Organ trade constitutes the sale and purchase of organs for financial or material gain.
    • Although reliable figures are lacking, the WHO estimated in 2008 that 5% of all transplants performed worldwide were illegal.
    • Living donor kidneys is the most commonly reported form of organ trade.
    • The WHO has further estimated that the total number of transplants performed worldwide is less than 10% of the global need.

Addressing a complex crime

    • A first step would be to reach agreement on what types of organ trade we find condemnable.
    • Some studies demonstrate that the organ trade can constitute serious organised crime.
    • The organ trade involves a variety of practices which range from excessive exploitation (trafficking) to voluntary, mutually agreed benefits (trade).
    • For example, organ sellers are reluctant to report abuses because organ sales are criminalised and sellers will be held liable.

War crimes trial of Hashim Thaçi, the 'George Washington of Kosovo', will do little to reduce tensions in the Balkans

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 19, 2023

He was elected as prime minister in January 2008 and declared Kosovo’s independence a month later.

Key Points: 
  • He was elected as prime minister in January 2008 and declared Kosovo’s independence a month later.
  • Joe Biden, as US vice-president, referred to Thaçi as “Kosovo’s George Washington” when he visited the White House in 2010.

The charges

    • They have jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and other crimes under Kosovo law during the period from January 1 1998 to December 31 2000.
    • These “opponents” allegedly included ethnic minorities (Serbs, Roma and others), as well as ethnic Albanians who did not support the KLA.

Organ trafficking allegations

    • His fellow defendants have also denied any guilt in what Krasniqi said was “a joint liberation enterprise and state-forming enterprise”.
    • One of the accusations against Thaçi and his co-defendants is that they were involved in the trafficking of human organs.
    • The organ trafficking claims were first made in 2008 and investigated by Dick Marty, a Swiss politician and former prosecutor.

Reactions to the trial

    • There is predictably strong opposition to the trial among Kosovo Albanians.
    • Many Kosovo Albanians, however, are unlikely to make this distinction, instead viewing the trial as an indictment of the entire Kosovo Albanian war effort.

Witness fears

    • Previous experience suggests it might be hard to get witnesses to come forward.
    • The Council of Europe report by Dick Marty referred to the relevance of Kosovo Albanian society being “still very much clan-orientated”.
    • Competing interpretations of the past are – and will remain – one of the long-term legacies of the war in Kosovo.

Vietnam Democracy Center Among 117 Organizations to Call Attention to the Practice of Forced Organ Harvesting

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 10, 2021

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Forced organ harvesting is the practice of killing people for their organs.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Forced organ harvesting is the practice of killing people for their organs.
  • For the victims, who include political prisoners, Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs, it is not just the harvesting of their organs, it is also a harvesting of their life.
  • For the rest of us, it robs us of our humanity and forever poisons our capacity of being human.
  • On 2/24/2021, 117 international organizations will call attention to this horrendous practice with an online conference on forced organ harvesting.

OneLegacy Leads Nation in Deceased Donor Organ Transplants

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 11, 2021

OneLegacy, the not-for-profit organ, eye and tissue recovery organization serving seven Southern California counties, announced today that in the year just concluded it once again led the nation in deceased donor organ transplants.

Key Points: 
  • OneLegacy, the not-for-profit organ, eye and tissue recovery organization serving seven Southern California counties, announced today that in the year just concluded it once again led the nation in deceased donor organ transplants.
  • To these health care providers, donor families, recipients and transplant colleagues, we owe a world of gratitude for their continued caring about our community and our world.
  • Central among those were the need of transplant centers and donor hospitals to free up ICU beds, ventilators and staff for COVID-19 patients, all resources which normally support organ donors.
  • The result is that the United States has a world-leading deceased organ donor transplant rate of 111 organs transplanted per million population; and when living donors are included, the U.S. also leads the world at 134 organs transplanted per million population.

This Holiday Season, The David Foster Foundation Presents Alarming Canadian Statistics Focusing on the Need for Organ Donation

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 8, 2020

The David Foster Foundation is a national non-profit Canadian charitable organization dedicated to providing financial support for non-medical expenses to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving pediatric organ transplants.

Key Points: 
  • The David Foster Foundation is a national non-profit Canadian charitable organization dedicated to providing financial support for non-medical expenses to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving pediatric organ transplants.
  • "I started this Foundation to help those in need and to help raise awareness regarding the importance of organ donation," said David Foster, Founder of The David Foster Foundation.
  • ''Sadly, as we continue dealing with the global pandemic and other issues, the need for organ donation can be overlooked."
  • "The alarming numbers don't lie and we want Canadians to be aware of the urgent need for organ donation, especially during these difficult times," said Michael Ravenhill, Chief Executive Officer at The David Foster Foundation.

Global Organ and Tissue Transplantation Industry

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 13, 2020

Estimates and Projections in Number of Transplants by Organ:

Key Points: 
  • Estimates and Projections in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Estimates and Forecasts in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2020
    Table 21: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in Canada:
    Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Organ for 2012, 2020,
    Table 22: Japanese Market for Organ and Tissue Transplantation:
    Table 23: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in Japan:
    Analysis in China in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2012-2019
    Organ: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027
    European Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market: Competitor
    Demand Scenario in Number of Transplants by Region/Country:
    Table 29: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in Europe:
    Estimates and Forecasts in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Number of Transplants by Organ: A Historic Review for the
    Market Scenario in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2012-2019
    Table 37: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in Germany:
    Market Analysis in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2012-2019
    Analysis in Italy in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2012-2019
    Organ: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027
    Market Share Analysis by Organ: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027
    Estimates and Forecasts in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2020
    Table 48: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in Spain:
    Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Organ for 2012, 2020,
    Estimates and Projections in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Europe in Number of Transplants by Organ: A Historic Review for
    Market Share Breakdown by Organ: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027
    Historic Market Scenario in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Table 61: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in Australia:
    Market Analysis in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2012-2019
    Estimates and Forecasts in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2020
    Table 66: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in India:
    Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Organ for 2012, 2020,
    Historic Market Analysis in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Distribution in South Korea by Organ: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027
    Market Share Analysis by Organ: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027
    America in Number of Transplants by Region/Country: A Historic
    Market Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2012,
    Analysis in Latin America in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Market by Organ: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020,
    Estimates and Forecasts in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    in Number of Transplants by Organ: A Historic Review for the
    Market Scenario in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2012-2019
    Table 85: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in Mexico:
    Market Analysis in Number of Transplants by Organ: 2012-2019
    Transplantation Market Share Breakdown by Organ: 2012 VS 2020
    Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2012, 2020, and 2027
    Table 97: Iranian Market for Organ and Tissue Transplantation:
    Table 98: Organ and Tissue Transplantation Market in Iran:
    Estimates and Forecasts in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Number of Transplants by Organ: A Historic Review for the
    Analysis in Saudi Arabia in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Market by Organ: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020,
    Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Organ: 2012 VS 2020 VS
    Historic Market Analysis in Number of Transplants by Organ:
    Market Share Breakdown by Organ: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027
    Estimates and Projections in Number of Transplants by Organ:

Organ Transplant Industry Analysis 2015-2025 by Type, Sex, Product, Organ, Types of Transplant, Company and Region - Includes COVID-19 Implications

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 15, 2020

The Global Organ Transplant Market is expected to grow at a robust CAGR during the forecast period.

Key Points: 
  • The Global Organ Transplant Market is expected to grow at a robust CAGR during the forecast period.
  • The market for organ transplant is driven by the growing old-age segment cross the world along with increasing cases of organ failures.
  • Additionally, alcohol consumption has increased over the years, which usually damages the liver; thereby, positively impacting the organ transplant market.
  • The Global Organ Transplant Market is segmented on the basis of type, sex, product, organ, types of transplant and region.

Global Organ Transplant Market Review 2015-2019 and Forecast to 2025 (Impact of COVID-19) - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 14, 2020

The "Global Organ Transplant Market By Type (Living-donor transplant, Dead donor transplant), By Sex (Male, Female), By Product (Immuno-suppressant Drugs, Organ preservation solution, Organ Care System), By Organ, By Types of Transplant, By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • The "Global Organ Transplant Market By Type (Living-donor transplant, Dead donor transplant), By Sex (Male, Female), By Product (Immuno-suppressant Drugs, Organ preservation solution, Organ Care System), By Organ, By Types of Transplant, By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • The Global Organ Transplant Market is expected to grow at a robust CAGR during the forecast period.
  • The market for organ transplant is driven by the growing old-age segment cross the world along with increasing cases of organ failures.
  • The Global Organ Transplant Market is segmented on the basis of type, sex, product, organ, types of transplant and region.

OneLegacy Issues Guidelines for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 19, 2020

OneLegacy is the largest independent organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world.

Key Points: 
  • OneLegacy is the largest independent organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world.
  • For this reason, OneLegacy clinical professionals are continuing to respond to, assess, support families, manage donors and recover organs for transplant from our hospitals amidst the COVID-19 challenge.
  • Mone says that these changes will continue to evolve but currently include:
    Any donor or patient with confirmed COVID-19 is not a candidate for donation.
  • This is consistent with the current recommendations by The Transplantation Society, Infectious Disease Section; American Association of Tissue Banks; and Eye Bank Association of America.

Milliman report on U.S. organ and tissue transplants projects 11% rise in average annual cost in 2020

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 19, 2020

SEATTLE, Feb. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released the 2020 edition of its triennial report on the estimated costs of U.S. organ and tissue transplants.

Key Points: 
  • SEATTLE, Feb. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released the 2020 edition of its triennial report on the estimated costs of U.S. organ and tissue transplants.
  • The report summarizes average annual costs per member per month (PMPM), including utilization and billed charges, related to the 30 days prior through 180 days after transplant admission for organ and tissue transplants.
  • This includes single-organ transplants such as heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, and pancreas, and a number of multiple-organ transplants; tissue transplants include bone marrow and cornea.
  • "There are a number of scientific and policy initiatives geared at improving the availability of and access to much-needed organ and tissue transplants," said Nick Ortner, a consulting actuary with Milliman and co-author of the study.