The United States faces a dire shortage of donor organs, with over 100,000 Americans currently waiting for a kidney transplant. Many of these individuals will die before receiving a life-saving organ. This has led some to advocate for a regulated market for kidneys, in which donors would be paid for their organs. However, this solution is overly simplistic and fails to account for the complexities of reforming the organ transplantation system.
A 2017 report by the Bridgespan Group identified significant waste and fraud in the U.S. organ transplant system. The report found that if the lowest-performing organ procurement organizations (OPOs) matched the performance of the highest-performing OPOs, up to 17,000 additional kidneys could be recovered for transplant each year. This led to increased transparency and accountability for poor-performing OPOs.
Economists have also played a significant role in improving the transplant system. Alvin Roth won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for his work on matching people with organs. Researchers have since improved these matching algorithms, further optimizing transplant system performance.
However, it is important to note that not all economic theories pan out in practice. The organ donor opt-in versus opt-out debate is a case in point. Economists predicted that switching from an opt-in system to an opt-out system would lead to a substantial increase in the number of organs available for transplant. However, research has shown that opt-out systems have had little impact on organ donation rates.
Instead of pursuing quick fixes, the focus should remain on ongoing system-wide reforms. Efforts such as the implementation of the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act have demonstrated the potential for increasing the number of organs available for transplant and improving the lives of patients.
Reforming the organ transplantation system is a complex and challenging task, but it is essential to ensure that everyone who needs a kidney gets one. By continuing to build on the progress that has been made, we can create a more equitable and efficient system that saves lives.
