Greece recorded its fifth consecutive annual increase in solid organ donations and transplants in 2025, marking another significant step toward improving the country’s transplant system and bringing it closer to European standards.
According to the National Transplant Organisation (NTO), Greece registered 137 deceased solid organ donors in 2025, a 23 percent increase compared with the previous year. Those donations enabled 285 life-saving transplants, offering a second chance to hundreds of patients awaiting organs. When living donations are included—93 kidney donations and one liver donation—a total of 388 people benefited from organ transplantation during the year.
Greece aims to reach European average by 2030
NTO President Professor Georgios Papatheodoridis welcomed the continued progress but stressed that more work remains to be done.
“The increase in organ donors and transplants does not allow us to rest on our laurels,” he said, adding that Greece remains committed to its goal of consistently utilizing at least 200 deceased donors annually by 2030, a benchmark the organization says reflects the European average.
For many years, Greece has lagged behind much of Europe in organ donation rates. The sustained growth over the past five years suggests that reforms, improved coordination, and greater public awareness are beginning to strengthen the country’s transplant system.
National effort throughout Greece supported increase in organ donations and transplants in 2025
Papatheodoridis credited the progress to the cooperation of intensive care units across Greek hospitals, transplant centers, immunology, and histocompatibility laboratories, the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAV), and other healthcare agencies involved in the transplantation process.
He also highlighted a nationwide awareness campaign launched through an initiative of the Health Ministry. The e-Government Center for Social Security (IDIKA) sent informational messages through Greece’s electronic prescription platform to approximately 3.5 million citizens, encouraging them to learn more about organ donation and register with the National Organ Donor Registry.
According to the NTO, the campaign generated approximately 65,000 visits to the organization’s website within ten days and resulted in nearly 15,000 new organ donor registrations, demonstrating growing public interest in organ donation.
Health officials hope that continued public awareness efforts, combined with ongoing improvements throughout Greece’s healthcare system, will help the country maintain its upward trajectory and further reduce waiting times for patients in need of life-saving transplants.
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