Organ donation registrations plunge in Taiwan after pandemic

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Organ donation registrations in Taiwan have significantly declined amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Cardinal Tien Hospital Chief Surgeon Chen Tzu-hung. 

The number of organ transplant cases dropped by approximately 20% at the Cardinal Tien Hospital, which equals 10 to 20 cases. 

Despite the possibility of infection, a hospital can harvest organs if the donors test negative at their passing. 

However, hospitals' strict quarantine regulations made it challenging for doctors to arrange transplant operations. 

This resulted in long waiting lists and the risk of recipients dying before finding a match, especially for the approximately 8,000 people waiting for kidney transplants, among which only 200 or so have matched with organ donors and received one.

Currently, around 10,000 patients in Taiwan are still waiting for an organ match.