Greece has recorded a surge in organ donations with transplants more than doubling in 2024, the Greek Health Minister said this week.
Organ donors increased by 60 percent in 2024. Speaking at the “Together we Strengthen the Chain of Life” event at the Onassio Cardiac Center in Athens in early 2025, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said data suggested another record year ahead.
“We are headed for a new record,” he said.
In 2024, 367 transplant surgeries, including kidney, liver, heart, and lung procedures, were performed. Through April 15 of this year, a total of 103 transplants have been completed.
Greece has seen a rise from four donors per one million people to 10.6 per one million. The government’s goal is to reach many more millions.
In this direction, Georgiadis announced that, in the coming weeks, IDIKA, Greece’s social security and prescription system, will be sending text messages encouraging citizens to register with the National Register of Organ and Tissue Donors. Notifications will also be sent via the MyHealthApp.
Raising awareness about organ donation and increasing the number of the country’s organ donors has been a priority for the government, the Minister said. Actions include bolstering the National Transplant Organization (NTO) with eight new coordinators, setting up a network of local coordinators in donor hospitals, training healthcare staff, and raising awareness through public campaigns.
Organ donations save hundreds of lives in Greece
In November 2024, Greece made history after reaching 100 organ donations in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive increase in the last few years.
These deceased donors have saved the lives of 225 patients through organ transplants, which were completed at 32 intensive care units (ICUs) across Greece. Meanwhile, 106 living donations have gone to an equal number of recipients within their families or circle of friends, surpassing all previous records.
“Today marks a historic milestone for our nation’s transplant system,” said Giorgos Papatheodoridis, president of the National Transplant Organization. “One hundred remarkable families have said ‘yes’ to donating the organs of their loved ones, allowing them to generously give life through their passing—breaking every previous record in Greece.”
In February, the story of three-year-old Aggelos, whose mother and her boyfriend have been accused for brutally beating the woman’s young son, shocked Greece and, once again, highlighted how organ donations can save lives.
Little Aggelos remained intubated at the children’s intensive care unit in critical condition. The boy’s grandparents, along with an aunt, gave the green light for the donation of Aggelos’ organs after the boy was declared “brain dead” on Sunday, February 2.
His heart was given to a child in Berlin, Germany, while his kidneys, were acquired by a hospital in Thessaloniki in northern Greece.
On a social media post, accompanied by a picture from within the operating room ahead of the procedure, the Hellenic Transplant Organization said:
“‘One minute of silence’ from the surgical teams as the minimum tribute to little Aggelos, who gave life to fellow sick humans. A warm thanks to the hospital authorities, the children’s ICU and to the entire hospital staff, along with the Heraklion Prosecutor’s Office for the impeccable collaboration. Our immense respect to the grandmother of the little boy for her decision to donate his organs. We hope this act will ease her immense pain.”
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