Italy ranks second in Europe for organ donation

Italy ranks second in Europe for organ donation, recording 29.8 donors per million inhabitants. In 2025, the country performed several thousand transplants, including 2,367 kidney, 1,753 liver, and 451 heart transplants. Notable medical centers include the Aou Città della Salute e della Scienza in Torino, which performed the highest total number of transplants, and the Policlinico di Bari, which led the nation in heart transplants.

Despite these figures, the demand for organs remains high, with 8,401 patients on waiting lists at the end of 2025. Additionally, an opposition rate of 29.2% in intensive care units was noted, which the National Transplant Center estimates prevented approximately 2,400 transplants.

Concurrently, the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS has issued an urgent appeal for blood donors, specifically for types 0+ and 0-. The shortage is attributed to a seasonal decline in donations during August, while medical requirements for surgeries and emergencies remain constant.