World Transplant Games Dresden and TransDia Sport Deutschland e.V. call for commitment to the Opt-Out Solution
Both the World Transplant Games 2025 and TransDia Sport Deutschland, Germany’s central transplant sports association and WTG2025 host, have long advocated for the adoption of the European standard of the opt-out regulation.
Eberhard Schollmeyer, Vice Chairman of TransDia Sport Deutschland e.V., stated, “The Bundestag has yet to discuss the Federal Council’s opt-out initiative, although the Basic Law obliges them to do so. The collapse of the government should not be used as an excuse to delay further; many might hope for its dismissal through legislative discontinuity. The Federal Council had already agreed in July to introduce the draft law into the Bundestag, and in its response, the government claimed to remain open to the outcome. If they are indifferent to the results, then the government crisis is no excuse to avoid a parliamentary discussion,” Schollmeyer said.
The decision to host the World Transplant Games in Germany was motivated by a statement from the then-President of the World Transplant Games Federation, Chris Thomas, who argued that Germany’s organ donation situation was so dire that German patients needed outside assistance.
Gudrun Manuwald-Seemüller, Managing Director of the World Transplant Games and Chairwoman of TransDia, added, “This statement would be tragically confirmed if the Federal Council initiative were to disappear now due to procedural issues. In August 2025, the eyes of the world will be on Dresden. Should Germany persist in its unique, Europe-wide approach, avoidable deaths and preventable suffering will continue for years to come. And this contradiction will be on display for all to see.”
Manuwald-Seemüller also criticized the cross-party opposition from Bundestag members trying to block organ donation reform: “This is yet another smokescreen. The opt-out solution has been stalled in Germany for forty years through tactics like these, which have only made matters worse. Over these decades, Germany has fallen from a leading position to one of the lowest ranks in Europe.”
Germany ranks poorly in international organ donation comparisons
The opt-out regulation encourages every citizen to engage with the topic of organ donation actively. Currently, Germany has a consent-based system, meaning organs and tissues can only be harvested if the deceased consented during their lifetime. The proposed reform would maintain every individual’s right to decide freely on organ donation, as citizens could still opt out by informing their families or documenting their decision.
In 2023, 8,385 patients in Germany were awaiting an organ, but there were only 2,877 available organs from 965 deceased donors.
Text: Agentur Sender und Empfänger; Photo: Bundesgesundheitsministerium
