Abstract:
As a critical measure for treating patients with end-stage organ failure, organ donation and transplantation has become an important benchmark reflecting a country’s comprehensive capacity in healthcare, modernization of governance and progress in social civilization. In 2024, the total number of organ transplant procedures worldwide exceeded 180 000, representing an annual growth rate of 2.4%. China ranked second globally with 24 000 transplant procedures, accounting for 13.8% of the global total. Meanwhile, driven by the growing burden of transplantation-related non-communicable diseases, the global demand for organ transplantation has reached an all-time high. At present, the global development of organ donation and transplantation features a landscape of coexisting strategic opportunities and risks and challenges. On the one hand, technological breakthroughs and institutional innovations have accelerated the rapid development of the field. On the other hand, issues such as uneven regional development, supply-demand imbalance, and lagging governance remain to be addressed. This study integrates multi-dimensional authoritative monitoring data, systematically summarizes twelve key characteristics of the global organ donation and transplantation sector, distills ten major developmental features and regional leading effects of China at the current stage, and elaborates on the practical connotation and contemporary value of the “Chinese Model”. The findings not only provide important references for countries to promote the sustainable development of the industry, narrow regional development gaps, and improve the equitable access to medical resources, but also offer comprehensive research support and scientific decision-making basis for China to consolidate its developmental advantages, refine Chinese solutions, and deeply participate in the construction of the global organ donation and transplantation governance system.