MESOT countries are diverse, in many aspects including transplantation activity. Most countries have active and stable transplantation programs but there are few countries with either no programs or intermittent and inactive ones. These countries are either small and rich preferring to send patients abroad or large and poor due to lack of financial resources.
Kidney Transplantation:
The average rate of kidney transplants in MESOT countries is 21 per million population (pmp). This is higher than the average in Asia (15.3 pmp), Africa and South America (12 pmp) but below the average for Europe (32 pmp). The rate of living donor kidney transplantation is 18 pmp which is the highest in the world (5.4 in Europe, 12 in S.America, 17.5 in N.America and 11.3 in Asia). Allowing living unrelated donors in some countries has contributed in increasing kidney transplantation. The rate of cadaver kidney transplantation is only 3 pmp which is very low compared to 26.4 in Europe, 7.7 in S. America, 25.2 in N. America, and even Asia (4 pmp). Cadaver transplantation has been enhanced by good organization and incentives in certain countries.
Extra-renal Organ Transplantation:
Due to shortage of cadaver donors in MESOT countries, extra-renal transplantation is scarce. Liver transplantation in only available in 4 countries. The average rate of liver transplantation is 0.7 pmp compared to 9.3 in Europe, 1.9 in Asia, 1.8 in S. America and 16 in N. America.
MESOT countries have the highest rate of living donor kidney transplantation in the world and the lowest rate of cadaver kidney and liver transplantation. Good organization and giving incentives to donor families have been successful in increasing cadaver donors but more efforts in public education are needed to reach international levels.