Every year, more than 4,700 organ transplants are carried out in France, and it is estimated that almost 40,000 people live thanks to a transplanted organ. But more than 14,400 patients need an organ transplant every year.

This medical technique is becoming better and better mastered, with results in terms of length and quality of life constantly improving. The situations in which a transplant is recommended are increasingly numerous and diverse.

The main obstacle to transplantation is the persistent shortage of available organs, despite the increase in organ donations.

In France, the Agence de la biomédecine manages the national list of patients awaiting transplants, coordinates organ harvesting and the distribution and allocation of grafts, ensures that organs harvested are allocated to patients awaiting transplants in accordance with medical criteria and the principles of justice, and evaluates medical activities.