Almost 100,000 new organ donors in Germany one month after transitioning registration online.
Since March 18, individuals in Germany have had the option to register as organ donors online, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive.
Online organ donor registration has seen a successful debut month in Germany, with an impressive 97,858 new registrations in the four weeks following the transition to the digital platform.
Beginning March 18, 2024, residents over the age of 16 in Germany have been able to complete their registration electronically using their eID residence permit or Personalausweis, along with their email address and health insurance ID number.
Registrants can also modify or withdraw their registration at any time by removing their information from the online registry. Starting July 1, 2024, medical facilities responsible for organ retrieval will have access to search the digital register.
Previously, organ donor registration was only possible through mail, with registrants receiving a physical card in return. This offline method will continue alongside the new online registry, with the expectation that the digital system will facilitate easier identification of organ donors during medical emergencies.
With approximately 8,400 individuals in Germany currently on the organ donation waiting list, health professionals anticipate that the online transition will streamline the donor identification process for those awaiting transplants.
According to the organ donor registry authority, it is common for organ donor cards to be inaccessible during emergencies, with only 21.2% of potential donors having a written declaration on file.
Furthermore, as part of a law introduced in 2020 aimed at simplifying the organ donor registration process, willing donors will also have the option to register via their health insurance provider apps starting September 30.