Organ shortage in transplant centers--approaches to a solution from the economic viewpoint

Abstract

In the article the regulations of the German transplantation law, which came into force on 1 December 1997, are considered from an economic perspective. First, the essential regulations of the law are described and then analyzed with respect to economic aspects. The law regulates in particular the administration of the demand surplus for organs. This could be reduced by rationing the demand or by increasing the supply. Apart from the medical features economic attributes such as cost effectiveness are also applicable as criteria for rationing. In addition, the method of the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) is introduced and described on the basis of the results of a study about costs and benefits of liver transplantation. To increase the organ supply the authorities in Germany have so far established information campaigns and made appeals to the public. In contrast, an organ donation club the allocation of donors is made considering if and when the recipient declared his readiness to organ donation. In this way the willingness to donate his own organs could be sanctioned positively and an additional incentive for supply could be set.