Some Proposals to Strengthen the Cooperation between Tissue Banks and Organ Transplant Organizations at National, Regional, and International Levels

The donation of human tissues and organs increases significantly when tissue banks and organ transplant organizations work together in the procurement of human organs and tissues at donor sources (hospitals, coroners’ system, organ procurement agencies, and funeral homes, among others). To achieve this vital goal, national competent health authorities should consider the establishment of a mechanism that promotes the broadest possible cooperation between tissue banks and organ transplant organizations operating in the country with all available donor sources. One of the issues that can facilitate the above-mentioned cooperation is the adoption of all necessary laws and regulations to support the establishment of a national central office in charge of the procurement of human tissues and organs within the country, to consider the possibility of the establishment or designation of a national central office to act as regional office in charge of the coordination and cooperation among the different national offices established in different countries within a given region, and the adoption of a unified coding and traceability system that could identify all human tissues and organs used in transplant activities carried out in the country, or within the region, or at international level. The promotion of national, regional, and international cooperation between tissue banks and organ transplant organizations would enable the sharing of relevant information that could be important for medical practice and scientific studies carried out by many countries, particularly for those countries with a weak health care system.