Incentives for human organ donation in Latvia

Abstract

EU countries, including Latvia, are experiencing severe organ shortage that results not only in additional spending on alternative treatment but also places a toll on people’s lives. Organ transplantation is the most cost-efficient treatment for kidney failure and provides the highest quality of life to the patients. For that reason, although it is in every country’s best interests to increase the pool of organs donors, author demonstrates that there are several obstacles in Latvian organ donation system that significantly hinders the organ donation process. Also, author argues that there are effective financial and non-financial incentives and policies that can be adapted to increase the pool of organ donations in Latvia.