DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Director of INCORT, José Juan Castillo / El Dia

A severe deficit in organ donation is gripping the Dominican Republic, as health authorities appeal to the public for a cultural shift to save hundreds of lives. Currently, 530 people are on the waiting list for a kidney, yet the country’s donation rate remains critically low.

Data presented by officials from the National Institute for the Coordination of Transplants (Incort) revealed a stark reality: so far in 2025, only 49 donations have been secured, a fraction of the 200 needed to be considered acceptable. These 49 donations (10 from deceased donors and 39 from living individuals) have nonetheless made a significant impact, benefiting 345 people. A single deceased donor can donate up to eight organs, including two lungs, two kidneys, a heart, and a liver, in addition to considerable tissues.

The principal...