The Transplantation Society and the Spanish National Transplant Organization Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2010

Statement by Jeremy Chapman, president of The Transplantation Society, on being bestowed with the 2010 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation:

“The Transplantation Society is honoured and delighted by this award which recognises both ONT and The Transplantation Society but which most importantly recognises, respects and honours all organ and tissue donors across the world for the new chance of life that they provide to others in desperate need”.

Dr. Jeremy Chapman, President
The Transplantation Society
Dublin (Ireland), 16^th June 2010

Statement by Rafael Matesanz, director of the Spanish National Transplant Organization, on being bestowed with the 2010 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation:

“The Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation for the ONT is a recognition to the long trajectory of the Organisation that coordinates and leads the Spanish transplant system and that has put our country at the forefront of the world for taking these therapeutics to all five continents with the aid of the International Transplantation Society.

More than a million people in the world could benefit from a transplant each year, but only around 100,000 do so in the end, due to the lack of organs and infrastructure. Bearing this in mind, Spain has contributed significantly to the international community by means of the National Transplant Organisation, aiming to increase donations, improve management and, to sum up, bring life to thousands of people worldwide.

The ONT has led the recently approved European Directive on Quality and Safety, which provides an organization system that is similar to the Spanish model to the 27 countries of the European Union and which will provide a common ground in this matter for 500 million people. In 2005, it promoted the creation, and now presides, the Iberoamerican Council on Donation and Transplantation, responsible for the consolidation of the donations and transplants in all Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries. Together with the International Transplantation Society and the World Health Organisation, who the ONT collaborates with, the ONT has led the global strategy on donation and transplantation. This is crucial for the establishment of new legislation in countries that did not have any on the fight against transplant tourism and organ trafficking and on the promotion of donations and transplantations for the entire world.

This Award acknowledges this collective effort from the ONT and the TTS and must serve as a way to reinforce this line of action in the future. Many lives depend on this”.

Dr. Rafael Matesanz
Director of the Spanish National Transplant Organization
Lima (Peru), 16th June 2010