Government Supports Improved Access to Living Organ Donation Among Marginalized Communities

The Government of Canada recognizes the life-saving impact that living organ donation has on those in need of a transplantation.

Unfortunately, access to organ donation is dramatically lower among marginalized communities in Canada, such as South Asian, African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) populations. For example, access to living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) for these populations is between 50% and 75% lower that the Canadian average.

The Government of Canada believes that all Canadians should have fair and equal access to health care services, including organ donation and transplantation (ODT), that are high-quality, culturally safe and free from racism and discrimination.

That is why, today, during Living Donation Week, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced key milestones achieved through the Improving Access to LDKT in Ethno-racial Minority Communities in Canada (ACTION) project. The project will help improve equitable access to LDKT for patients with kidney failure from marginalized communities in British Columbia and Ontario.

“Living donor kidney transplants save lives and there is a critical need for more organ donors in Canada. By investing in projects like this, we are helping to improve living donation and transplantation for Canadians, especially marginalized communities.”

—The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health

For many patients, a kidney transplant from a living donor provides better outcomes—longer life expectancy and better quality of life.

In marginalized communities, historic and personal experiences with racism and discrimination have a tangible impact on organ donation rates.

With almost $1 million in funding over three years, Providence Healthcare and the University Health Network Centre for Living Donation have developed interventions to address these barriers, including culturally safe and relevant health care tools, and increased community engagement.

Read the full article from Health Canada here.