The transplantation of any organ is not just a medical procedure – it is a story of hope, salvation, and compassion. Azerbaijan became the first country in the South Caucasus where doctors successfully performed a deceased donor transplant.

Dr. Mirjalal Kazimi, PhD in Medicine, transplant surgeon of the Department of Surgery and Transplantation of the Central Customs Hospital, answered our questions about how organ donation brings people together.

– How has our country prepared for the implementation of postmortem organ donation? What legislative and organizational steps have been taken?

First, I would like to note that in 2008, for the first time in the South Caucasus, a living donor liver transplant was performed in Azerbaijan. Since then, approximately 1,500 liver and kidney transplants have been carried out. Unfortunately, the number of donors is disproportionate to the number of patients suffering from organ failure. In countries where transplant programs are highly developed, there is an alternative source: organs from deceased donors.

The law allowing organ transplantation in Azerbaijan was adopted in 1999, but there were certain shortcomings in some provisions. Since 2008, regular transplant surgeries and conferences have been held in our country, and reports have been published in the media and on social networks. Most importantly, there has been state support, including the development of clinical infrastructure, sending medical staff abroad for training, and funding for liver and kidney transplants through the mandatory health insurance system. All these steps gave a strong impetus to the development of the medical field.

In 2020, President Ilham Aliyev signed a new law “On the Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues.” A Coordination Center for Organ Donation and Transplantation was established under the Ministry of Health. The new law grants us the legal basis to perform transplants from both living and deceased donors.

– In what cases can the organs of a deceased person be used for transplantation, and in what cases is it not allowed?

If a person has officially given consent during their lifetime to donate organs after death, or if close relatives give consent, the procedure may be carried out. However, the patient must first be diagnosed with brain death, which is legally equal to biological death – this is not a coma, but actual death. There is also a list of medical conditions that contraindicate organ recovery from a donor.

– Which organ transplants from deceased donors have been performed in Azerbaijan, and what are the patient outcomes?

This February, for the first time, our team at the Central Customs Hospital performed a liver transplant from a deceased donor. To date, six such liver transplants and seven kidney transplants have been carried out. We lost one patient. Overall, considering the serious preoperative condition of our patients, I can confidently say that our outcomes are comparable to the results of leading global clinics.

– What is the difference between transplants from living and deceased donors?

From a technical standpoint, organ retrieval from a deceased donor is easier than from a living donor. Emotionally as well, because in the second case, we operate on a healthy person.

– How did you feel when the first deceased donor transplant was successfully completed?

It is impossible to express in words… A professional dream came true: doing something good for the society, our people, and our state, serving those in need – this is a great honor for me and for our entire team.

– Has there been a case in your practice that left a particular emotional impact?

Every patient is different, but they all have one thing in common – they become like family to us. I remember a 32-year-old patient who came to us with kidney failure. Although his parents, brother, and wife were examined, no compatible donor was found. A few days later, a young man approached us, introducing himself as a cousin, and said he wanted to donate. He underwent the examination and asked that the patient not be informed.

However, one day they ran into each other in my office: they rushed toward each other, hugged, and cried like children…

It turned out that the patient’s cousin lived in Russia, and they had been estranged for years. Without hesitation, the cousin flew to Baku to donate. Naturally, they reconciled. That is why I always say that organ transplantation brings families closer together.

– Many people feel fear when it comes to this topic. What prevents a person from agreeing to organ donation after death?

People must trust doctors, and we, as healthcare professionals, must earn that trust. Individuals need to be sure that they will not be deceived and that their donated organs will not be subject to commercial misuse. All religions support organ donation because it serves humanity.

– How many people in Azerbaijan have already given official consent to donate organs after death?

According to the information I have, around 600 people have officially registered their consent.

The Coordination Center for Organ Donation and Transplantation under the Ministry of Health is doing extensive work: it organizes awareness programs in educational institutions and organizations and coordinates the activities of transplant centers. Mandatory health insurance covers all expenses for kidney and liver transplants, meaning that all citizens, regardless of social status, can undergo surgery free of charge.

Dilara Zamanova

PR Specialist

Central Customs Hospital