91998E3416

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3416/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Kidney transplants

The problem of kidney transplants is a cause for grave concern throughout the Community in view of the large number of candidates for the operation who suffer from serious and chronic kidney failure and undergo dialysis, compared to the number who are operated on.

To avoid speculation and graft in connection with the tracing of available kidneys, does the Commission agree that it is necessary to coordinate these activities by harmonising the relevant rules in all the Community countries?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-3414/98, E-3415/98 and E-3416/98 given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 1999)

The Commission has information concerning solid organ transplantation, comprising liver, heart and kidney for the 15 Member States, Czech Republic, Poland, Norway and Switzerland which is collected on a regular basis by the International transplant coordinators society (ITCS). The Commission can provide the total number of transplants and transplants per million people over the period 1992-97 for most Member States, and over the period 1995-97 for others.

Article 129 of the EC Treaty concerning public health excludes explicitly any harmonization of the laws and regulations of the Member States. Legislation regulating organ transplantation is consequently a matter for each Member State.

The Amsterdam Treaty in its Article 152 will contain new specific provisions on organs. This will enable Community measures to be adopted setting high standards of quality and safety of organs and substances of human origin, blood and blood derivates. Such measures will not prevent any Member State from maintaining or introducing more stringent protective measures. National provisions on the donation or medical use of organs and blood will not be affected.