Catalonia saw over 10,000 patients receive life-enhancing tissue transplants in 2025. The region’s Blood and Tissue Bank (BST) released this landmark figure on World Organ and Tissue Transplant Day on Friday. The distribution of 17,370 tissues highlights both the success of the Catalan transplant system and the growing need for public awareness and donation.

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Addressing Growing Demand and Shortages

According to a statement from the BST, the number of tissue donors rose to 2,172 last year, a 5.4% increase from 2024. However, despite this steady growth, officials warn that supply is not keeping pace with demand. The BST noted it “cannot meet the increase in the current needs for tissues” due to an expanding range of medical applications. The most critical shortages are in musculoskeletal tissue, heart valves, and corneas.

The organisation highlighted that tissue donation remains one of the “lesser-known but equally necessary” forms of donation. A single tissue donor can help improve the lives of over 100 people and, in some cases, save them entirely.

A Second Chance at Life

Thousands of personal stories lie behind these statistics. For Josep Maria, a liver transplant recipient, donation was the difference between life and death. Ten years ago, doctors placed him on the transplant list after a devastating liver cancer diagnosis.

“I waited for that call for 519 days. That’s 17 months,” he recalled in an interview with betevé, speaking near the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona where his life was saved. The wait, he explained, was the hardest part, requiring psychological support.

“During that period, you question whether it’s worth continuing to live or having your loved ones suffer.”

When the call finally came on 15 January 2016, his life changed course. “I was lucky that someone, a family, said yes to donation,” he said. Life now involves lifelong medication and check-ups every three months, but he has embraced it fully. “I know I am carrying someone else’s organ, and I have to take care of it. I go to the gym, I go hiking. This is the life I want to live. Now I value everything; before, I valued nothing.”

Inspired by his experience, Josep Maria now chairs the Association of Patients and Liver Transplant Recipients of Catalonia, offering support to others on the same difficult journey.

Catalonia’s Transplant System Under Pressure

The demand for tissues reflects the broader pressures on healthcare in Catalonia. As Europa Press reported, the 17,370 tissues distributed in 2025 included 6,318 musculoskeletal tissues (bones, tendons, ligaments), 1,803 ocular tissues (corneas and scleras), 141 units of skin tissue, and 40 cardiovascular tissues (heart valves and arteries). This high volume is crucial for patients facing long waits, with more than 202,000 people currently on surgery waiting lists in Catalonia for various procedures.

Despite the challenges, Catalonia remains a world leader in organ and tissue transplantation. The region achieved 1,356 organ transplants in 2025, equating to a rate of 167 transplants per million people, one of the highest in the world. Leading centres, such as Hospital Clínic, performed 294 organ transplants last year, while the Hospital de Bellvitge led the region in tissue donation with 320 donors.

The Importance of a Conversation

Officials and advocates like Josep Maria stress that increasing donation rates relies heavily on public awareness. Anyone can register their wish to be a donor through an advance directives document or via the government’s La Meva Salut health portal.

However, the most critical step is communication. “It is very important to talk about donation during your life, leave it in writing, and above all, communicate it to your family and close circle,” Josep Maria urged. In the end, it is the family who must confirm a loved one’s wishes with medical professionals.

As Catalonia celebrates another year of transplant milestones, the message from both health authorities and recipients is clear: a simple conversation today can give someone else the gift of a future tomorrow.