European Platform for Organ Transplantation: Resolving Donor Scarcity

1. Launching a European Platform • Towards a common European policy • Jan Busschbach

2. Scarcity of donor organs • Scarcity of donor organs • Ever since transplantation started • Although it has been contested by medical progress • Scarcity will increase • Has not been solved by medical progress • as medical progress will continue • Scarcity In fact distribution problem • Scarcity seems function of health policy • We should address ‘Ethical, Legal and Psychological Aspects’

3. No fluid progress • In health policy progress seems less clear • than the medical advancements • Examples • Failure to increase post mortem donation • Failure to control commercial donation • No real progress over 20 years • some even suggest decline

4. Obstructive factors • One can think of several obstructive factors • In the progress of ‘Ethical, Legal and Psychological Aspects’ • Embedded in local…. • National values • Health care systems • National political systems • Difficulty implementing international research

5. Chances • Local differences, increases variances • We can observe real life experiments • Often on a nation size level • Quality increases when comparing the differences • General rule; bench marking • So… facilitate communication!

6. Communication • “Communication is the problem to the answer…” • 10 cc, The thinks we do for love, 1976 • As there is no specific communication platform • Journal • Society, foundation • At least in Europe • Conference • At least not a regular one 10 cc

7. Ad hoc initiatives in the past • Last initiative by Land, Gutman,Sells & Daar • International Congress on Ethics of Organ Transplantation • December 2002 • Munich • Successful • Bring together scientist and policy • Report in books • Nevertheless ad hoc

8. Continuity: platform • There seems to be a need… • ..but can we establish continuity? • Try to replicate last initiative in Munich • Initiative of Erasmus MC, Dutch Transplantation Foundation, and Dutch Health Council • Add continuity: • Establish a European Platform

9. The platform: ELPAT • What; • European platform • Ethical, Legal and Psychological Aspects of Transplantation • How: • Facilitate and structure communication about European research initiatives in this field of science • Quality improvement • Wherefore: • To make progression in resolving the scarcity in donor organs, within well establish legal, psychological and ethical boundaries

10. 5 objectives of ELPAT • Organize a conference to mark the start of the platform • Establish a secretariat and initial resources to initiate the Platform • Bring continuity and structure in the dialogue (communication) • Be helpful in solving differences between European countries, and in formulating guidelines • Inform the general public

11. International conference • Objective 1 • Organize a high quality international conference to mark the start of the platform • Facilitate high quality scientific communication • Help to formulate priorities in research and policy for the Platform • A start is a necessary but not sufficient condition of continuity…

12. Secretariat and initial resources • Objective 2: • Establish a secretariat and initial resources to initiate the Platform • The ELPAT Platform has successfully applied for a grant of the European Union • For the conference • For the platform • Sufficient for 0.2 FTE secretariat and 0.5 FTE coordinator for the first year, that is until April 2008

13. Continuity and structure • Objective 3: • Bring continuity and structure in the dialogue • Research agenda • A book • reflecting the main discussion themes of the conference • A willing publisher and sufficient resources are already arranged • www.elpat.eu • Will be continued • Newsletter • Twice a year

14. Continuity and structure: ESOT • Cooperated with ESOT • Look for possibility to professionalise • Meetings • Small task force meetings for specific priority topics • Obviously, topic identified here during the meeting • Organize small general meetings • Preferably satellite meetings synchronized with ESOT meetings • Organize large ‘stand alone’ conference every 4 year

15. European guidelines • Objective 4 • Be helpful in formulating European guidelines on ethical, legal and psychological aspects • Towards a common European policy • Focus on the priorities • as put forward during the founding conference • Make draft recommendations and guidelines • Organize task force meetings to establish the guidelines • The Platform will try to be a link with European organizations • e.g. EU, Council of Europe, ESOT

16. Inform the general public • Objective 5 • Informing the general public about new developments in the field of ethical, legal and psychological aspects of organ transplantation • Health policy needs public communication • Much of our work is determined by media • Making pages at website for lay people • Provide state-of-the-art information • An internet discussion platform

17. 5 objectives of ELPAT Organize a high quality international conference to start the platform  Establish a secretariat and initial resources  Bring continuity in the dialogue ESOT - Be helpful in formulating European guidelines  Inform the general public Press have already been active

18. Further items

19. Leaving Rotterdam • Do not forget your possible book contributions…. • Have a last lunch with us… • We wise you a comfortable and safe journey home