Armenia Plans to Start Organ Transplants from Cadaveric Donors, Says Torosyan

Armenia is planning to enable organ transplants from cadaveric donors over the next 2-3 years to save lives. In a conversation with reporters during a seminar on flu, the Minister of Health of Armenia, Arsen Torosyan, emphasized that this is purely a humanitarian step.

“We aim to implement this within 2-3 years starting from the beginning of this year. Numerous infrastructures are needed for organ transplants from cadaveric donors, ranging from medical centers to legal and electronic systems. The intention is definite; we must do this, as it will save the lives of people with a very poor quality of life,” said Torosyan, adding that these individuals mainly suffer from chronic renal failure and rely on hemodialysis.

The Minister noted that the primary and crucial focus now is on kidney transplants, although in the future, transplants of other organs such as liver, heart, and lungs, which are significantly more complex, will also be attempted.

Torosyan observed that kidney transplants from living donors have surged this year. In 2019, about twice as many transplants were performed compared to previous years, with much of it funded by the state. The government allocates 2.5 million drams for each transplant.

Addressing criticisms regarding organ transplants from cadaveric donors, Torosyan pointed out that Armenians travel to other countries for liver and kidney transplants, paying between $30,000 and $150,000, and most of these procedures are carried out using cadaveric organs. Armenia is currently collaborating closely with Belarus, where transplants are well established. The Minister noted that Belarus ranks among the best in the world for organ transplants.

In the coming days, the second liver transplant (from a living donor) will take place at Arabkir Medical Center in Armenia, assisted by partners from Belarus.

The Minister emphasized that all necessary legal acts are in place for transplants from cadaveric donors, which must be applied in practice, starting from the diagnosis of brain death. Until a diagnosis of brain death is established, organs cannot be taken from the donor. In Armenia, there will be an opt-out system for cadaveric transplantation. “Anyone who does not wish for their organs to be used after their brain death to save another person's life can submit a refusal application, and we will see in the registry that we do not have the right to use that person's organs. However, for those who do not write this, we will be able to use the organs,” the Minister noted.

Torosyan stressed the importance of conveying the message correctly that this is a purely humanitarian step to save another's life, nothing more. He remarked that if the issue becomes politicized or used for political dividends, it could put lives at risk. “However, this would mean depriving people of the opportunity to save lives. We have about 1,000 dialysis patients, and by doing so, we would deny these people the chance to live a relatively better life,” said the Minister, adding that the criticisms he has heard regarding this topic are largely unrelated to health and medicine.