Registry in France: “the refusal rate has reached a historic record”

Following the presentation by the Biomedicine Agency 2023 results of harvesting and transplantation in France, the Renaloo patient association reacts.

“Renaloo actively participated in the development of the fourth Transplant Plan launched in March 2021. Two years later, where are we?” begin the members of the non-profit organization in a press release.

Even if the number of kidney transplants performed in 2023 (3,525) is up nearly 4.4% compared to 2022, it remains 7% lower (i.e. more than 250 transplants not performed) than in 2017 (3,782, all-time high).

“In France, organ transplantation can only be carried out in university hospitals. Faced with difficulties in accessing operating theatres, it is in daily competition with other activities and surgeries, many of which could be deported to other establishments”, underlines the collective. “Although the law has made transplantation a national priority, the choices of university hospital management are frequently at its expense. However, when university hospitals mobilize, the effects are immediate. he continues.

The transplant refusal rate has reached the historic “record” of 36%

Another reason for concern for Renaloo: the transplant refusal rate, which has reached the “record” historical 36%. “It is exploding in particular in dense urban areas, where there are great social inequalities and significant poverty”deplore the activists. “The question of the hospital crisis and its impact on the reception of future donors and their loved ones must be asked, in the context of strong inequalities in emergency care. How to adhere to donation when the Do you feel that you have been mistreated, or do you think that your loved one was poorly taken care of?” they ask.

Moreover, “the activity of living donor transplants is weakened, because it relies on the commitment of a small number of teams” can we read in the document sent to the editorial staff. In 2022, only 8 of the 31 kidney transplant teams in mainland France have performed more than 20 living donor kidney transplants per year. And the six most active teams (Toulouse, Necker, Grenoble, Rouen, Montpellier, Bordeaux) alone carried out almost half of all national activity.

How to “prioritize collection and transplant”?

“We can clearly see, on the ground, that harvesting and transplantation are suffering considerably from the hospital crisis, more than any other medical or surgical specialty that can operate more autonomously or be deported to other structures. Faced with these difficulties, our fear is that from 2024, the 3rd year of the transplant plan, its minimum objectives will not be achieved, which would be a tragedy for waiting patients. concludes Yvanie Caillé, founder of Renaloo.

Renaloo finally calls:
– a strong political signal, at the highest level of the State, in favor of the transplant.
– the mobilization of all university hospitals to prioritize collection and transplantation.
– urgent measures, in particular the protection of operating times dedicated to the transplantation of living donors.
– the reduction of profound territorial inequalities in access to kidney transplants.

In our country, 3 to 6 million people are affected by kidney disease and 100,000 patients whose kidneys no longer function survive thanks to replacement treatment (dialysis or transplant).

8 out of 10 French people say they are in favor of donating their organs.