Every day, an average of 3.3 people in Taiwan lose their lives waiting for organ transplants. Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan revealed this sobering statistic during an organ donation event at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. He emphasized the urgent need to increase organ donation in Taiwan to save more lives.
Currently, over 10,000 patients in Taiwan remain on the waiting list for life-saving transplants, according to the Taiwan Organ Registry Center. Chiu praised the hospital’s success in transplant medicine and encouraged the public to register for organ donation online. He stressed that expanding organ donation in Taiwan could drastically reduce the number of deaths.
Lung transplant recipient Huang En-chin shared her personal journey at the event. Diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2023, Huang quickly needed oxygen support. However, after her transplant and extensive rehabilitation, she regained strength and mobility, including walking and cycling again. Huang credited her survival to the generosity of her anonymous donor. She expressed deep gratitude for the donor’s gift, which gave her a second chance at life.
Furthermore, Minister Chiu highlighted Taiwan’s progress in promoting organ donation in palliative care. This approach has helped many patients gain new hope over the past decades. He also recognized the dedication of the national organ donation team and medical staff across hospitals for their relentless efforts.
Addressing concerns about hospitals allegedly removing organs before patients’ hearts stopped, Chiu confirmed that investigations are ongoing. He added that a preliminary consensus about donation procedures is forming but stressed that specific requirements must be fulfilled before organ retrieval can proceed.
Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital superintendent Chen Chien-tzung described organ donation as a challenging but crucial process. He praised Huang’s recovery and commended Minister Chiu for increasing National Health Insurance premiums. This increase improved Taiwan’s medical environment and strengthened support for emergency care teams.
In conclusion, Minister Chiu urged the public to join the effort in expanding organ donation in Taiwan. With more donors, the tragic loss of 3.3 lives daily can be reduced significantly. Organ donation in Taiwan remains a vital way to save lives and transform futures.
