LAUSR

Introduction It has become crucial to share experience between countries with well-developed and established transplantation programs and local initiatives to provide implementation models to conduct safe organ donation and transplantation (D&T) programs. During 2013, the situation in Europe included an overlap of several projects. This situation created confusion. Objectives To avoid overlapping of activities/projects in Europe. To support the increase of D&T. To design an action plan to maximize efforts in D&T. Methodology The WTA identified the following procedures to develop and synchronize actions: (i) To approach the national development; (ii) Cooperation plans and visits; (ii) Educational Programs in Organ Donation and (iv) Activities to increase the exchange of experience.WTA participants conducted follow up activities, updates and discussions using: (i) videoconferences, (ii) virtual libraries, (iii) follow up charts and (iv) follow up maps. Results WTA, represented by the European Commission (SANCO); the Council of Europe (BSA Project); Centro Nazionale de Trapianti (CNT)-European Transplant Network (ETN)/Mediterranean Transplant Network (MTN); South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN); Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG)/The Transplantation Society (TTS); and the Donation and Transplantation Institute (DTI Foundation), is creating synergies to support the European countries to achieve self-sufficiency, through the identification and development of common objectives and guidelines, and the exchange of good practices. From 2013 to 2016, 4 face-to-face and 8 virtual meetings were performed. Possible synergies in 26 European countries were analyzed through work groups and joint visits to discuss with the competent authorities. A permanent network of international experts was created to coordinate efforts and pool resources. Meeting conclusions were included as national priority actions. Conclusions WTA is an effective tool to avoid the overlapping of activities and create synergies between different initiatives. There is potential to share expertise among the international institutions and organizations that are working in the organ donation field. These results could be used for the organisations/countries to develop further actions, initiatives and projects. The developing countries where there is currently smaller action in a local level, should share this information to joint synergies and reach the competent authorities. Figure. No caption available.