The diffusion of organ transplantation in Western Europe

The moment of introduction of clinical organ transplantations varied in Western Europe from country to country. In retrospect, one can distinguish pioneering countries (most notably the U.K. and France), and countries that were early or late adopters of the new technologies. An early start did not necessarily lead to extensive diffusion of organ transplantations, as shown by the example of the U.K. In general, Western Europe is lagging behind the U.S.A. In diffusion of organ transplantation technologies. With few exceptions, the introduction and diffusion of organ transplantations in Western Europe have been largely autonomous developments, not regulated by government or third party payers and only slowed down by lack of organs, facilities or funds. The lack of organs has been reduced by the activities of organ procurement and exchange organisations, and perhaps by legislation promoting organ donation. Nevertheless, the growth of the number of patients waiting for an organ is in almost all countries outpacing the increase in availability of organs.