In this game, we are all a part of the same team. The strength lies in us. Because, only together we can reach the finish line.
I am a donor, too. Because I support Serbia.

Belgrade, 6 June 2019 – With only three donors per million population, Serbia is ranked at the tail end among the countries in the region and Europe. The experience of our medical experts and conditions in transplantation centres have reached the highest quality level and match the world-class practice. However, the number of donors is not sufficient, and waiting lists are ever longer. Accepting organ donation is a matter of maturity of the society, as well as awareness of individuals that it is 20 times more likely that they will need an organ than they will be in the position to donate it.

The new national campaign of the Ministry of Health and Hemofarm Foundation ‘I am a donor, too. Because I support Serbia‘ is aimed at increasing the number of donors, while appealing to national unity. In many sports arenas, Serbia has won games with its heart, knowledge and skill of its people, but Serbia is losing in the game which is played for life. Look at the scoreboard – life sends a message to us! Per million population, Serbia has only (3) donors, Croatia has as many as 37, Austria - 23, Hungary - 17, Slovenia – 19. We are at the bottom of the European organ donor ranking, as if we didn’t understand that this is out joint game in which lives are at stake.

The citizens of Slovenia or Hungary have a six times higher chance to obtain an organ, Belgium – ten times, Austria – eight, Croatia – twelve, and Spain as much as sixteen times compared to the citizens of Serbia. ‘I am a donor, too. Because, I support Serbia’ is the message that has been sent out, since this 6th June, also by our best athletes, the ones who have already won their championship titles or have been still winning them. Ivana Španović, Maja Ognjenović, Dejan Stanković, Dejan Savić, Nenad Zimonjić, Branko Lazić, Dragan Škrbić, and Zoran Tošić are sending the joint message: ‘In this game, we are all a part of the same team. The strength lies in us. Because, only together we can reach the finish line. I am a donor, too. Because I support Serbia’.

On the occasion of June 6th – National Donor Day, the Minister of Health Dr Zlatibor Lončar, Director of Emergency Centre Dr Marko Ercegovac, and the Chief Executive Officer of Hemofarm Dr Ronald Seeliger visited the Transplantation Centre of the Clinical Centre of Serbia, which is one of the five centres in the country in which transplantations are successfully performed.

‘Organ transplantation is at the very top of the priorities of the Ministry of Health and we are doing our best to systematically organize and significantly improve this extremely important area of medicine. The legal solution has enabled organ donation and transplantation to be performed at the top-quality medical and safety standards. However, it is not sufficient if citizens do not perceive organ donation as the highest act of human kindness, and saving of lives of the people waiting to receive the call for a new organ becomes a routine. Our citizens have shown exceptional solidarity throughout the history, especially in tough times. That’s why I believe in the conscience and awareness of this society also as regards organ donation‘, Minister of Health Dr Zlatibor Lončar emphasized and invited all institutions, citizens, organizations, non—government sector, as well as media to help in increasing the number of saved lives through the transplantation programme.

‘The issue of organ donation is a matter of good decision of an individual, as well as the most significant test of humanity of the society. Serbia currently loses in the most important game – the one that is played for life! That’s why the campaign ‘I am a donor, too. Because I support Serbia’ is extremely important for each one of us personally. This is the moment in a game when we become aware that we still have time to change the score, but we must fight more fiercely – in this case, for the lives of people. As for Hemofarm, having in mind that we are a company that has been committed to the health of people for almost six decades, the responsibility is even greater. We are aware that breaking the prejudice about organ donation takes time, but I am deeply convinced that Serbia has its place in the family of humane European countries. For that reason, I support Serbia in this game‘, the CEO of Hemofarm Dr Ronald Seeliger, said.

In Serbia, the longest waiting list is the one for a new kidney, with 780 patients on it. The number of people waiting for liver transplantation has increased to 42, while 39 people are currently waiting for heart transplantation, among whom the youngest patient is only 18 years old. Last year, 53 persons waited for a call for a new heart, but only 10 of them lived long enough to receive that most important call.

Now, lives of people depend on both our decision and the decision of our closest family members. It is important now to play both wholeheartedly and smart. Be a donor! And, support Serbia!