Appears that in Italy there should be a huge demand for Eligix's product....I hope Gambro has good representation there...
"Tops Europe For Organ Transplants
FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters Health) - Italy ranked on top of the list of EU countries for number and quality of organ transplantations, a report released this week shows.
In 2001, patient survival rates five years after the transplant are clearly above the European average, with a survival rate of 79% for kidney, 67% for liver and 72% for heart transplants, according to the "2001 Report on the Activity of Donors and Organ Transplants."
Released in Rome on Wednesday, the report shows that Italy, with 17.1 donors per 1 million people, also beats the European average of 16.5.
"This is excellent data for Italy, long considered the tail-ender of Europe regarding organ transplantations. It shows that our centres are working well, and the quality of transplants is greater than in other European countries," Health Minister Girolamo Sirchia said.
In 2001, there have been 1,376 kidney transplants, 314 heart transplants, 779 liver transplants, 62 lung transplants, 15 pancreas transplants, five intestinal transplants, three multiple transplants, 61 kidney-pancreas transplants, 10 kidney-liver transplants and two heart-liver transplants. Nine hundred seventy-seven patients received bone marrow transplants.
But there are still problems. The difference between North and South is still stark -- 22.6 donors per million of population in the North compared with 7.1 in the South -- and long waiting lists. Nearly 7,000 patients are waiting for a kidney, almost 1,000 for a liver, more than 700 for a heart, and over 200 are awaiting a suitable lung.
Announcing the report, Sirchia outlined plans to build an Internet-based ranking system for the country's transplant centres.
As of January 1, 2003, the health ministry's Web site will offer citizens the opportunity to check report cards for each hospital. They will include data on survival rates, rehabilitation rates and waiting lists.
"This transparency plan will allow citizens to know where they can find the best quality of care and stimulate the structures that do not work well," Sirchia said on Wednesday. He said that starting from 2003 the transparency plan will also include waiting lists.
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