Record organ and tissue donations in Taiwan last year indicate growing public acceptance of the practice and recognition of its critical role in saving lives. (CNA)

Organ and tissue donations hit a record high in Taiwan last year, indicating greater public acceptance of the practice and recognition of its critical role in saving lives.
 
A total of 139 organ and 236 tissue donations were made in 2019, up from 101 and 226 year on year, respectively, according to Taipei City-based Taiwan Organ Registry and Sharing Center Jan. 9.
 
Dr. Lee Po-chang, chairman of TORSC, said the positive trend is partially due to the effectiveness of related regulations pertaining to kidney donations promulgated in February 2019 and guidelines governing heart transplants issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in December 2017.
 
Other contributory factors, Lee said, include a TORSC-supported TV series “The Coordinators” produced by Taiwan Public Television Service last year, as well as the  “Next Stop, New Life” exhibition at Taipei-based National Taiwan Science Education Center in 2017.
 
Lee also credited the efforts of health care facilities around Taiwan. These are Changhua Christian Hospital in central Taiwan; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan City’s Linkou District, northern Taiwan, and Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan; China Medical University Hospital in Taichung City, central Taiwan; Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in New Taipei City; and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Tri-Service General Hospital, all in Taipei.
 
TORSC statistics reveal that 9,980 patients are on the waiting list for organ transplants in Taiwan. Of these, 7,764 need kidneys, 1,082 livers and 827 corneas. (YCH-E)