During the Council of Health Ministers in Brussels, attended by Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela, discussions focused on advancing a European vision for organ donation and transplantation. Minister Abela announced Malta’s plans to launch an open consultation process to review existing legislation, including the possibility of introducing an opt-out system for organ donation.
This announcement, however, has sparked a reaction from the Partit Nazzjonalista (PN), who claim the government is taking credit for a proposal they first presented in February. The PN’s Private Member’s Bill, spearheaded by Shadow Minister Ivan Bartolo, outlined a framework for an opt-out system, already implemented in various European countries, which ensures organ donation unless individuals explicitly opt out.
Minister Abela emphasized Malta’s commitment to aligning with European standards and stressed the importance of collaboration at both political and clinical levels to benefit all citizens. He also noted that the Ministry is considering adopting Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD), a practice that has increased transplant numbers by 25% in other countries.
The PN’s proposal similarly supports an opt-out model but includes provisions to give families the final say when an individual’s wishes are unclear. According to the PN, such reforms are critical, given that around 90 patients in Malta are currently waiting for a kidney, 15 for a liver, 6 for a heart, and approximately 50 for a cornea.
Both sides agree on the importance of advancing organ donation laws for the common good. Minister Abela concluded by reaffirming the government’s dedication to improving transplant medicine, ensuring no one is left behind.
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