Health Canada provides support to Canadian Blood Services to further improve organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Canada

Funding to focus on raising awareness, professional education, sharing best practices and system improvements

OTTAWA, April 8, 2019 /CNW/ - One organ and tissue donor can benefit more than 75 people and save up to eight lives. With more than 4,400 people in Canada waiting for a transplant right now and only a fraction of Canadians registered as donors, the need is critical.

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced an additional $3.4 million in funding over two years for Canadian Blood Services to further improve the organ and tissue donation and transplantation system in Canada. This funding will be used to target four priority areas: public education and awareness campaigns, professional education, development and implementation of best practices, and system improvements to promote effective and timely access to care.

The federal, provincial and territorial governments have invested more than $70 million since 2008 to support efforts by Canadian Blood Services to provide a national coordination role for the country's organ and tissue donation and transplantation system. The Government of Canada will continue to work with Canadian Blood Services, the provinces and territories, and other stakeholders to help increase the rates of organ and tissue donation and to strengthen the donation and transplantation system across Canada.

Quotes

"Organ and tissue donation saves lives and benefits both individual recipients and their families. I encourage all Canadians to talk to their loved ones about this important issue. Make sure that they know your wishes and that you know theirs. I am pleased to announce funding that will further improve our system so that Canadians have even more effective and timely access to care."

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health

"This additional investment from Health Canada is welcome support for our work in advancing organ donation and transplantation in Canada. Together with our federal, provincial and territorial partners, and ODT community leaders in Canada, we have seen much progress since 2008. We know there is more to be done and thank the Government of Canada for the enhanced funding and leadership as we further our efforts in these priority areas."  

Dr. Graham Sher, CEO
Canadian Blood Services

Quick Facts

• Every year, thousands of Canadians are added to organ waitlists. There are more than 4,400 people waiting for organ transplants in Canada and an estimated 250 die while waiting for a transplant.
• Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization. In the domain of organs and tissues it operates the national organ waitlist and inter-provincial organ-sharing registries and works collaboratively with provincial donation programs on strategic initiatives to improve system performance.
• The funding being announced today is in addition to the $3.58 million provided annually to Canadian Blood Services by Health Canada. Provinces and territories also collectively contribute approximately $3.58 million each year (Quebec contributes separately).
• The Government of Canada was pleased to support Motion M-189 on organ donation, which was unanimously adopted by the House of Commons on November 21, 2018.

Associated Links
Canadian Blood Services
Become an organ and tissue donor

SOURCE Health Canada

Thierry Bélair, Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; Canadian Blood Services, 1-877-709-7773, [email protected]