World's Best Practice National Reform Package

On 2 July 2008, the Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd) announced a new funding package of $151.1m. to develop and implement world's best practice in Australia for organ and tissue donation.  There are six elements to the package:

• $67 million to fund dedicated organ donation specialist doctors and other staff in public and private hospitals;

• $46 million to establish a new independent national authority to coordinate national organ donation initiatives.

• $17 million in new funding for hospitals to meet additional staffing, bed and infrastructure costs associated with organ donation.

• $13.4 million to continue national public awareness and education;

• $1.9 million for counselling for potential donor families; and

• Other significant measures including enhanced professional education programs, consistent clinical protocols, ‘clinical trigger' checklists and data collection for organ transplants in hospitals. 

A new national authority for organ and tissue donation will be up and running by 1 January 2009.

(Source: http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2008/media_release_0340.cfm)

Prime Minister 's Press Release (28 KB)

The Prime Minister was asked a question in the House of Representatives on 4 September 2008.

See also the Health and Ageing - Organ and Tissue Donation website.