Turkey medical experts call for increased cadaveric organ donation

Medical professionals and local officials in Turkey are calling for a national mobilization to increase cadaveric organ donation rates. During a press conference ahead of the Transplantasyon 2026 Congress in Denizli, experts from the Turkish Organ Transplantation Organizations Coordination Association (TONKKD) highlighted a significant disparity between living donor transplants and cadaveric donations.

Currently, approximately 80 percent of organ transplants in Turkey are performed using living donors, whereas in many developed nations, cadaveric donations account for up to 80 percent of total transplants. Experts noted that over 30,000 people are currently on waiting lists for organs, including nearly 600 children. Statistics indicate that approximately 2,500 people die annually in Turkey due to a lack of suitable donors.

To raise awareness during Organ Donation Week (November 3–9), various regional activities have been organized. In Samsun, police divers held an underwater demonstration to highlight the struggle of lung transplant patients. In Iğdır, health officials set up information stands to educate the public on the medical and religious aspects of donation. Officials emphasized that religious views, including those from the Presidency of Religious Affairs, do not prohibit organ donation, and they encouraged citizens to use digital platforms like e-Nabız to register their intentions.