Quebec organ donation service takes over organ transport

Article content Quebec’s organ donation service is taking over the role of transporting organs effective immediately, provincial health minister Sonia Bélanger announced Wednesday. The move will see Transplant Québec take over management of organ transport from the Canadian Organ and Tissue Donors Association (CODA). Sûreté Québec volunteers will continue to transport organs and medical teams.

“What’s concretely changing? Not much,” Transplant Québec General Manager Martine Bouchard said, emphasizing that her organization’s takeover from CODA will not disrupt organ transportation in the province. Organ transportation in Quebec is managed by Transplant Québec effective today, SQ General Manager Johanne Beausoleil, Health Minister Sonia Bélanger and Transplant Québec Martine Bouchard announced. Will anything change day-to-day? No, Bouchard tells me.

@mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/xEPqkzn6Yo Despite its name, the Canadian Organ and Tissue Donors Association only managed organ transportation in Quebec.

Transplant Québec is taking over operations in part because CODA president Richard Tremblay is retiring. The move will also allow Quebec to preserve the unique system that sees police officers transport organs, Bouchard said. SQ police officers volunteer, unpaid, to transport organs and medical teams to patients in need.

In all other provinces, organs are transported by ambulance. The system benefits the province, Bouchard said, because it keeps costs low.