Canadians aren't donating enough organs to meet the demand for patients, according to a report released Monday.
Despite an increase in need, the Canadian Institute for Health Information says that the number of donations in 2010 was on par with those from 2006.
According to the study, 465 deceased donors and 567 living ones contributed to 2,103 organs in 2010.
But the report notes that 229 people died that year awaiting a transplant.
And there is concern that the number of deaths could rise if donations don't increase.
"Organ donations, whether they're from living or dead donors, have remained relatively stagnant since 2006, and while that doesn't sound like a problem, the need for organs has actually increased considerably over the same time period," said the institute's Claire Marie Fortin.
And the donation rate from living donors dropped to 16.3 per million population. In 2006, the rate was 17 per million population.
Meanwhile, the deceased donation rate was 13.6 donors per million population in 2010, while it 14 donors per million population four years previous.
While the report focused on several organs including liver, heart, lungs and pancreas, most patients in 2010 were awaiting kidneys transplants.
In fact, though 1,248 patients did receive a kidney transplant in 2010, an additional 3,362 patients remained on a waiting list.
"If the organ donation rate isn't keeping pace (with demand), we have far more people on dialysis waiting for a kidney and sadly some will die," Fortin said.
Some of them, like Toronto's George Wright, may wait for a decade before they can get a new kidney.
Three times each week, Wright goes to the Scarborough Hospital dialysis unit to have his blood cleaned by a machine.
"It's not very nice, but it's something you have to live with, you can't change it," he told Â鶹´«Ã½.
There have been several organ awareness programs over the past few years, but they appear to have had little effect.
Maria Waugh, another patient awaiting transplant, has simply taken her name off the waiting list.
"I'm 76 now and it takes years to get a transplant," she said.
Dr. Paul Shay, national executive director for the Kidney Foundation, said the shortage is resulting in sorrow for many patients and their families.
"We're really disappointed, because it is a real tragedy for everyone who is waiting for a kidney transplant and it is tragic for those who die waiting," he said.
And as the number of organs drops, the numbers of those needing them is on the rise. Recent studies have found rising rates of high blood pressure and diseases like diabetes, which can cause kidney failure.
Last year, patient advocacy groups submitted recommendations to provincial health ministers aimed at boosting donation rates. The recommendations were taken from similar successful programs in other countries.
But now these groups are going straight to the public.
"You can't use your organs when you are dead, you might as well give them up and save multiple lives," said Dr. Jeff Zaltzman from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.
With a report from CTV's medical specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip
