Manitoba has seen a significant increase in organ donor registrations, marking the highest number since the launch of its online registry more than ten years ago. Despite this progress, only six percent of Manitobans are currently enrolled, prompting calls for increased efforts to boost registration rates and ultimately save more lives, according to organ recipients and transplant advocates.
Dr. Owen Mooney, the medical director at Transplant Manitoba, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the critical need for more donors to come forward. He stressed that the more individuals who register and consent to organ donation, the greater the benefits for everyone involved. Paul Meilleur, who suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, shared his personal experience of waiting for a double-lung transplant and the life-changing impact of receiving new organs in early 2025.
With approximately 75,000 Manitobans signed up as organ donors by the end of August, the numbers have nearly doubled since 2018, showing progress in donor registrations. However, Dr. Mooney acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in increasing registration rates to meet the persistent demand for organs in the healthcare system.
Greg Unger, the executive director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Manitoba branch, highlighted the importance of educating the public about organ donation processes to encourage more registrations. He emphasized the significance of every new registration in providing more individuals with the opportunity to receive life-saving transplants.
Efforts are being made to streamline the registration process and increase awareness, such as exploring options for individuals to register at different government service points like MPI or through routine processes like tax forms. The goal is to make organ donation more visible and accessible to residents, ultimately saving more lives and offering individuals a second chance at life.