Organ transplantation in Central Asia countries: A review andchallenges in the development of organ donation

This article aims to examine the challenges in the development of deceased organ donation and assess
the current state of transplantation practices in Central Asian countries.
A comprehensive literature review was carried out, expert opinions were gathered, and the websites
of the Ministries of Health in Central Asian countries were analyzed.
The current state of deceased organ donation and transplantation activities, in general, showed a
heterogeneous appearance in the Central Asian countries. Our findings showed that organ trans
plantation, especially deceased organ donation, is still in the early stages of development. Several key
factors contributing to the weak or, in some countries, complete absence of deceased organ donation
were identified. The ambiguous role of religion, especially the concept of Tengrism, on the successful
development of deceased donation was revealed. Additionally, significant improvements are needed in
the legislative framework, public awareness, societal attitudes towards donation, infrastructure, and the
provision of necessary education and equipment to support the development of transplantation in these
countries.
The development of deceased organ donation in Central Asian countries is heavily influenced by the
country’s economic development, government support, and the understanding and awareness of both
the public and healthcare professionals regarding deceased organ donation and its benefits for in
dividuals in need of transplants.
© 2025 Asian Surgical Association and Taiwan Society of Coloproctology. Publishing services by Elsevier
B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license