Germany reaches milestone: 100,000th kidney transplant performed

July 24, 2025

In July 2025, Germany marked a historic milestone with the 100,000th kidney transplant since the country’s first such procedure in 1963. This achievement, announced by the German Organ Transplantation Foundation (DSO), symbolizes not only six decades of medical progress but also 100,000 new chances at life for patients with severe kidney disease.

Kidney transplants offer recipients a significantly improved quality of life — often for decades. One such example is Eberhard Schollmeyer, who received a kidney 40 years ago and has since led a full life, including participating in the World Transplant Games. He embodies what organ donation makes possible: not only survival, but a life rich with family, work, and even athletic excellence.

This August, the World Transplant Games 2025 in Dresden will showcase just how far transplant recipients can go — as athletes from over 60 countries demonstrate strength, resilience, and the power of second chances.

Despite these successes, the DSO warns that demand for donor kidneys remains high. As of the end of June 2025, more than 6,200 patients were actively listed as eligible for a kidney transplant, while only 793 kidneys were transplanted from deceased donors in the first half of the year.

Read the full press release from the DSO (in German):
👉 100.000. Niere in Deutschland transplantiert – DSO

August 27, 2025

Thank You Dresden – A Week We Will Never Forget

The 25th World Transplant Games came to a festive close in Dresden – and many athletes and guests are already calling them the “best Games ever.” After seven days full of sports, emotions, and moving stories, the city of Dresden

August 21, 2025

Largest single distribution campaign of donor cards in Germany

Up to 120,000 organ donor cards will be distributed to households in the Dresden administrative district, the circulation area of the Sächsische Zeitung, over the coming weeks. Today, SZ circulated 100,000 copies. Another 20,000 will follow in the coming weeks.