The Global Observatory of Donation and Transplantation aims to cover some of the aspects drawn up by the WHA 57.18 Resolution. In this resolution it was requested to collect global data on the practices, safety, quality, efficacy and epidemiology of transplantations and their global availability for all those concerned, which is recognized as a prerequisite for global improvement of and better access to transplantations.

The Global Observatory of Donation and Transplantation provides a useful tool to professionals, patients, politicians and general public to access to global information and data regarding donation and transplantation activities in countries within WHO. Specifically, the observatory provides information for each country on the organizational and legal framework that supports organ, cells and tissue donation and transplantation. It also gives an overview of the donation and transplantation activities within the different countries and related to the different types of organs, cells and human tissues.

Data have been provided by the different WHO countries, through a specifically designed questionnaire, that will be updated as changes in legal and organisational issues on transplantation occur within the different countries and with the new annual donation and transplantation activities.

Some of the possibilities to use these data are described bellow:

• Transplant professionals will be able to understand the differences within countries identifying opportunities for improvement from their scientific and clinical perspective.
• Politicians may be able to identify legal and organizational needs within their country with regards to donation and transplantation.
• The general public may gain a greater understanding of the transplant system's achievements, as well as its continuous challenge to meet the needs of patients awaiting transplantation.