Transplant Waiting List Reaches 49,700 People in Brazil, With Kidneys Leading Demand
The family of a 14-year-old goalkeeper donated organs and helped bring the issue to light; São Paulo has 23,700 patients waiting.
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
About 49,700 people are waiting for an organ in Brazil, according to a g1 survey using Health Ministry data. Kidneys account for 46,132 patients, followed by liver (2,377) and heart (516).
The country is fourth in the world in absolute number of transplants, but procedures are not keeping up with the waiting list. Since the start of the year, 7,400 have been performed, about 15% of those waiting, and the list grows every day, partly because of the difficulty in obtaining donations.
The subject drew attention after the family of goalkeeper Miguel Meneses, 14, who died in a traffic accident, authorized donation. His heart, corneas, kidneys and liver were recovered, which should help at least six people.
São Paulo has 23,700 patients on the list, followed by Minas Gerais (4,424), Bahia (2,792), Paraná (2,751) and Rio de Janeiro (2,690). Men make up 58% of the list.
The report explains that demand for kidneys is high because diabetes and high blood pressure, two common diseases, gradually damage the organ. Since hemodialysis allows people to survive for years, the wait tends to be longer than for a heart or lung.