Hyung Joon Ahn1, Hwi Won Kim2, Miyeun Han3, Hee Jung Jeon4, Oh Jung Kwon5, Curie Ahn3. 1. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Gwangneung, South Korea. 2. Department of Social Studies, College of Education, Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Division of Nephrology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-do, South Korea. 5. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Han Yang University, Seoul, South Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the numbers of foreign patients seeking organ transplantation (OT) in Korea and to examine the relationship between the trend of deceased donors in Korea and number of Korean patients seeking OT overseas since 2000. METHODS: Data on foreigners who received a transplant in Korea were obtained from the Korean Network for Organ Sharing. Data on overseas transplants were obtained from 42 transplant centers surveyed through transplant coordinators. RESULTS: A total of 336 foreigners underwent OT (kidney transplantation [KT], 174; liver transplantation [LT], 162) in Korea between 2006 and 2016. The Mongolians were the most common foreigners who undergo KTs (32%), followed by the Chinese (18%), Americans (9%), and Emiratis (7%). Among foreigners undergoing LTs, the most common country of origin was Mongolia (39%), followed by United Arab Emirates (23%), China (13%), and the United States (6%). A total of 2206 Korean patients underwent overseas OT (KT, 977; LT, 1229) between 2000 and 2016. In 97% of overseas KT cases (n = 942) and 98% (n = 1205) of overseas LT cases, the transplantations were performed in China. The relationship between the number of deceased donors in Korea and the number of overseas transplants after 2006 indicates a highly negative correlation. (ρ = -0.988, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of trends in Korean patients seeking OT overseas demonstrates the importance of multilateral approaches to address organ trafficking. National effort to achieve self-sufficiency by increasing activities for organ donations is one of the fundamental solutions to transplant tourism.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the numbers of foreign patients seeking organ transplantation (OT) in Korea and to examine the relationship between the trend of deceased donors in Korea and number of Korean patients seeking OT overseas since 2000. METHODS: Data on foreigners who received a transplant in Korea were obtained from the Korean Network for Organ Sharing. Data on overseas transplants were obtained from 42 transplant centers surveyed through transplant coordinators. RESULTS: A total of 336 foreigners underwent OT (kidney transplantation [KT], 174; liver transplantation [LT], 162) in Korea between 2006 and 2016. The Mongolians were the most common foreigners who undergo KTs (32%), followed by the Chinese (18%), Americans (9%), and Emiratis (7%). Among foreigners undergoing LTs, the most common country of origin was Mongolia (39%), followed by United Arab Emirates (23%), China (13%), and the United States (6%). A total of 2206 Korean patients underwent overseas OT (KT, 977; LT, 1229) between 2000 and 2016. In 97% of overseas KT cases (n = 942) and 98% (n = 1205) of overseas LT cases, the transplantations were performed in China. The relationship between the number of deceased donors in Korea and the number of overseas transplants after 2006 indicates a highly negative correlation. (ρ = -0.988, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of trends in Korean patients seeking OT overseas demonstrates the importance of multilateral approaches to address organ trafficking. National effort to achieve self-sufficiency by increasing activities for organ donations is one of the fundamental solutions to transplant tourism.
Authors: Chih-Wei Yang; David C H Harris; Valerie A Luyckx; Masaomi Nangaku; Fan Fan Hou; Guillermo Garcia Garcia; Hasan Abu-Aisha; Abdou Niang; Laura Sola; Sakarn Bunnag; Somchai Eiam-Ong; Kriang Tungsanga; Marie Richards; Nick Richards; Bak Leong Goh; Gavin Dreyer; Rhys Evans; Henry Mzingajira; Ahmed Twahir; Mignon I McCulloch; Curie Ahn; Charlotte Osafo; Hsiang-Hao Hsu; Lianne Barnieh; Jo-Ann Donner; Marcello Tonelli Journal: Kidney Int Suppl (2011) Date: 2020-02-19
Authors: Jade M Nunez; Jonathan Nellermoe; Andrea Davis; Simon Ruhnke; Battsetseg Gonchigjav; Nomindari Bat-Erdene; Anudari Zorigtbaatar; Ali Jalali; Kevin Bagley; Micah Katz; Hannah Pioli; Batsaikhan Bat-Erdene; Sarnai Erdene; Sergelen Orgoi; Raymond R Price; Ganbold Lundeg Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-07-21 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Curie Ahn; Samuel Lee; Yeong Hoon Kim; Jieun Oh; Ik Jin Yun; Hyung Joon Ahn; Soo Hyun Seo; Jong Cheol Jeong; Myung Soo Kim; Jongwon Ha; Soon Il Kim; In Sung Moon; Won Hyun Cho Journal: Korean J Transplant Date: 2021-09-30