Spain's Murcia Region Sets Organ Donation Record; Reina Sofía Begins Robotic Kidney Transplants

The Murcia health region reported a record organ donation campaign in the first half of 2026, registering 58 donors (including five live kidney donors) and performing 108 solid‑organ transplants – 44 liver, 56 kidney and eight heart procedures. The bone‑marrow match held in May added 2,171 new donors, the highest national tally, boosted by a popular street race that attracted over 3,000 participants and secured 350 donors.

In Andalusia, Hospital Reina Sofía carried out its first live‑donor kidney transplants using robotic surgery. Two patients – teenage Bruno and adult Francisco – received kidneys from their father and sister respectively. The procedures combined laparoscopic kidney extraction with robot‑assisted implantation, drawing on expertise from hospitals in Barcelona and Cádiz. Hospital officials highlighted the technique’s benefits, such as reduced postoperative pain, lower blood loss, quicker recovery and improved cosmetic results, and plan to expand robotic use to deceased‑donor transplants in the future.