Organ Donor Rate Plummets Again

***Media Release***

GiveLife NZ

14 January 2009

Organ Donor Rate Plummets Again

Figures released this week reveal that there were just 31 organ donors in New Zealand last year.

This is down from 38 the previous year, and will ensure that New Zealand remains the lowest in the Western World for the number of organ donors it has.

New Zealand has 7 donors per million of population.

Top of the list is Spain with 35 donors per million of population. Last year South Australia had 27 donors per million.

whilst the number of donors went down in New Zealand. Other countries are recording record highs again for 2008.

Australia are reporting their highest ever organ donor rates in 40 years. Canada reported it was the third year in a row that a new benchmark had been set, and even though they had a 42 percent increase in donors last year they still see room for improvement.

Organ donor campaigner Andy Tookey is angry that after 7 years of campaigning, petitions to Parliament, select committee recommendations and a private members bill that still nothing has been done by the Ministry of Health.

" I hope that with a change of Government they take the problem seriously and not keep putting it in the 'too hard basket' as has been previously done. There too many lives at stake to keep delaying the urgent action it requires.

National MP's were very supportive of improving our organ donor system whilst in opposition. I am hoping that now that they are in a position to take action that they will do so swiftly.' Said Mr.Tookey.

ENDS

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