ISHLT Submits Comments on WHO Global Strategy on Donation and Transplantation
In response to a public consultation from the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has submitted official comments on the draft Global Strategy on Donation and Transplantation.
The WHO strategy is intended to guide international efforts to improve access to donation and transplantation, strengthen ethical and regulatory oversight, expand professional capacity, and support sustainable transplant systems worldwide.
ISHLT’s response was developed by the Society’s Advocacy Committee, chaired by Alan Betensley, MD, of Northwestern University. The committee conducted a focused review of the strategy with particular attention to issues relevant to heart and lung transplantation, including social determinants of health, vulnerable and underserved populations, global disparities in access, data collection and quality oversight, professional capacity, international collaboration, and research and innovation. The final response was approved by the ISHLT Executive Committee.
In its comments, ISHLT expressed overall support for the WHO strategy while recommending several areas for further emphasis. These included collecting data earlier in the transplant pathway to better identify disparities in access; strengthening transparency and accountability in cross-border transplantation activities; supporting international collaboration in transplant workforce development; recognizing the role of professional and scientific societies in education and capacity-building; and ensuring that equity and ethical considerations remain central as emerging transplantation technologies are developed and adopted.
The Advocacy Committee plays an important role in guiding ISHLT’s engagement with policy issues relevant to advanced heart and lung disease and transplantation, helping ensure that the Society’s perspectives are informed by its multidisciplinary and international expertise.
Participation in the WHO consultation aligns closely with ISHLT’s mission as an international organization and its commitment to improving care for patients with advanced heart and lung disease worldwide. Contributing to the development of a global transplantation strategy also broadens ISHLT’s engagement in international policy discussions and strengthens the Society’s global reach and relationships.