More than 1,000 Bulgarians are waiting for organ transplants

October 9 is the European Day of Organ Donation and Transplantation.

This year, the motto of the European Day of Organ Donation and Transplantation is "Just say Yes!'. The aim of the campaign to enhance public awareness on the meaning and significance of organ donation and transplantation.

Currently, 1,016 Bulgarians live in the hope that they will receive an organ that will allow them to lead a normal life. 899 people are waiting for a kidney transplant.

42 Bulgarians need a liver transplant; 44 people need a heart transplant; 21 are waiting for a lung transplant; 9 people need a pancreas replacement and one person needs a small bowel transplant.

According to the existing legislation in Bulgaria, any person over the age of 18 can be a potential organ donor, unless he or she has expressed his or her disagreement in writing during his or her lifetime.

A person under the age of 18 may be an organ donor only with the written consent of his or her parents, guardian or trustee.

One donor can save 8 human lives through organ donation and improve the lives of up to 100 people through tissue donation.