Organ Donation

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on organ donation in South Australia and whether the COVID pandemic has impacted on donations?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for his question. COVID-19 has added a level of complexity to the national organ donation and transplantation program and directly impacted organ and tissue donation and transplantation numbers in 2020. The transport sector suspended some transplant programs at the height of the pandemic and the suspension of elective surgery also impacted the program.

Transplant teams have had to navigate the challenges facing hospitals, changing health system arrangements and COVID-19 restrictions, including flight reductions and border closures. Whilst donation and transplantation doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to limit the impact of COVID-19 on people waiting for a transplant, the 2020 Australian Donation and Transplant Activity Report published by the Organ and Tissue Authority reveals that the pandemic did have an impact and that Australia's organ donation and transplant rates did drop.

In 2020, South Australia recorded 43 donors, equating to 26 donors per million population. While this was down from our highest ever total of 52 recorded in 2019, it was higher than 2018, when there were 36 donors. Nationally there were 463 donors in 2020, equating to 18 donors per million population. That was 16 per cent lower than the 548 donors in 2019.

Organ donation is an important decision for individuals and their families, and families who are often dealing with very sudden and tragic situations somehow find the strength to respond with generosity and compassion. This act of generosity has a profound impact on those who receive a transplant as well as their families, friends and the community. I am incredibly grateful to all donor families for honouring the donation decision of someone they loved, particularly for making that difficult decision in a difficult year.

In terms of the organ donation program, South Australia has a strong tradition of public support for organ and tissue donation. South Australia continues to have the highest consent rate in the country at 67 per cent, well above the national consent rate of 58 per cent. We also have the highest rate of registration on the Australian Organ Donor Register at 71 per cent, with the national average at just 34 per cent. South Australia is the only remaining state in Australia to have driver's licence donor registration processes, and this is considered a major contributor to the high donation consent rates.

The most important factor influencing a family to agree to donate is to know that their loved one wanted to be a donor. Nationally, in 2020 almost 90 per cent of families agreed to donate when their family member was registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register. The importance of ongoing conversations and education about organ donation cannot be understated.

I want to acknowledge those who have given so much to so many, and thank all donor families for honouring the donation decisions of their loved ones. They have saved lives and their generosity has transformed lives. I also want to acknowledge the dedication and innovation of our donor nursing and medical specialists and transplant teams, who have been delivering this life-saving service in the most difficult of circumstances.