Author: Gulnaz Nadyrkhanova
Mentor: Zhuldyz Abdilda
Every year in Kazakhstan, around 300 people die because of a shortage of donor organs — and this number is growing. The posthumous organ donation process has come to a standstill, as it requires the consent of the deceased's relatives, even if brain death has occurred. Yet a single deceased donor can save the lives of 7–8 people. The special report highlights the global leader in organ transplantation — Spain — and Belarus, which leads among CIS countries.
In Kazakhstan, individuals can register their consent or refusal to donate organs while alive through the eGov portal. However, even if consent is given, family members are still asked, and in most cases, they refuse. They are reluctant to take responsibility for someone else’s life. That’s why experts suggest that personal decisions about donation should not require family approval and must be legally binding.
*The original video was produced in Kazakh
You can watch the video prepared by the project resident here: