Abstract:

The organ transplantation system in the United States has experienced significant growth over the years, with an increasing number of organ donations and transplants. However, institutions involved in organ transplantation are continuously identifying and addressing issues within the system, aiming to propose targeted solutions and improvement goals. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health of United States released a research report titled "Realizing the Promise of Equity in the Organ Transplant System" (referred to as the research report), providing guidance for the development of the organ transplantation system in the United States in the next five years. Although the research report focuses on the situation in the United States, its recommendations for improving the organ transplantation system hold valuable insights. This article presents a concise analysis of the fairness and efficiency issues within the organ transplantation system in the United States, and emphasizes the recommendations provided in the research report to improve fairness, efficiency, and organ utilization. Furthermore, the article explores the potential application of these insights in enhancing the organ donation and transplantation system in China, to promote the high-quality development of organ donation and transplantation in our country.

Key words: Organ donation, Organ transplantation, Organ allocation, Organ procurement organization, Donor hospital, Transplant center, Expanded criterial donor, Donation after cardiac death