Changes on the way to increase organ donor pool in Manitoba

WINNIPEG — Manitobans who are waiting for an organ transplant are getting some good news.

Health Minister Sharon Blady says the province is making changes to increase the pool of donors.

Before this rule change only people declared brain dead with their heart still beating were able to donate.

That’s less than two per cent of people who die in hospitals.

Now, patients whose hearts stop beating and there’s no chance of recovery can donate.

Blady says the change is expected to increase organ donations by up to 25 per cent.

Kidneys are the most common organs donated after a cardiac death.

Last December, the Canadian Institute for Health Information said only 10 per cent of eligible organs from deceased donors were actually transplanted into patients who need them in Manitoba.