1. 1 Launching a European Platform  Towards a common European policy  Jan Busschbach

2. 2 Scarcity of donor organs  Scarcity of donor organs  Ever since transplantation started  Although it has been contested by medical progress  Scarcity will increase  Has not been solved by medical progress  as medical progress will continue  Scarcity In fact distribution problem  Scarcity seems function of health policy  We should address ‘Ethical, Legal and Psychological Aspects’

3. 3 No fluid progress  In health policy progress seems less clear  than the medical advancements  Examples  Failure to increase post mortem donation  Failure to control commercial donation  No real progress over 20 years  some even suggest decline

4. 4 Obstructive factors  One can think of several obstructive factors  In the progress of ‘Ethical, Legal and Psychological Aspects’  Embedded in local….  National values  Health care systems  National political systems  Difficulty implementing international research

5. 5 Chances  Local differences, increases variances  We can observe real life experiments  Often on a nation size level  Quality increases when comparing the differences  General rule; bench marking  So… facilitate communication!

6. 6 Communication  “Communication is the problem to the answer…”  10 cc, The thinks we do for love, 1976  As there is no specific communication platform  Journal  Society, foundation At least in Europe  Conference At least not a regular one 10 cc

7. 7 Ad hoc initiatives in the past  Last initiative by Land, Gutman,Sells & Daar  International Congress on Ethics of Organ Transplantation  December 2002  Munich  Successful  Bring together scientist and policy  Report in books  Nevertheless ad hoc

8. 8 Continuity: platform  There seems to be a need… ..but can we establish continuity?  Try to replicate last initiative in Munich  Initiative of Erasmus MC, Dutch Transplantation Foundation, and Dutch Health Council  Add continuity:  Establish a European Platform

9. 9 The platform: ELPAT  What;  European platform  Ethical, Legal and Psychological Aspects of Transplantation  How:  Facilitate and structure communication about European research initiatives in this field of science  Quality improvement  Wherefore:  To make progression in resolving the scarcity in donor organs, within well establish legal, psychological and ethical boundaries

10. 10 5 objectives of ELPAT 1. Organize a conference to mark the start of the platform 2. Establish a secretariat and initial resources to initiate the Platform 3. Bring continuity and structure in the dialogue (communication) 4. Be helpful in solving differences between European countries, and in formulating guidelines 5. Inform the general public

11. 11 International conference  Objective 1  Organize a high quality international conference to mark the start of the platform  Facilitate high quality scientific communication  Help to formulate priorities in research and policy for the Platform  A start is a necessary but not sufficient condition of continuity…

12. 12 Secretariat and initial resources  Objective 2:  Establish a secretariat and initial resources to initiate the Platform  The ELPAT Platform has successfully applied for a grant of the European Union  For the conference  For the platform  Sufficient for 0.2 FTE secretariat and 0.5 FTE coordinator for the first year, that is until April 2008

13. 13 Continuity and structure  Objective 3:  Bring continuity and structure in the dialogue  Research agenda  A book  reflecting the main discussion themes of the conference  A willing publisher and sufficient resources are already arranged  www.elpat.eu www.elpat.eu  Will be continued  Newsletter  Twice a year

14. 14 Continuity and structure: ESOT  Cooperated with ESOT  Look for possibility to professionalise  Meetings  Small task force meetings for specific priority topics Obviously, topic identified here during the meeting  Organize small general meetings Preferably satellite meetings synchronized with ESOT meetings  Organize large ‘stand alone’ conference every 4 year

15. 15 European guidelines  Objective 4  Be helpful in formulating European guidelines on ethical, legal and psychological aspects  Towards a common European policy  Focus on the priorities  as put forward during the founding conference  Make draft recommendations and guidelines  Organize task force meetings to establish the guidelines  The Platform will try to be a link with European organizations  e.g. EU, Council of Europe, ESOT

16. 16 Inform the general public  Objective 5  Informing the general public about new developments in the field of ethical, legal and psychological aspects of organ transplantation  Health policy needs public communication  Much of our work is determined by media  Making pages at website for lay people  Provide state-of-the-art information  An internet discussion platform

17. 17 5 objectives of ELPAT  Organize a high quality international conference to start the platform  Establish a secretariat and initial resources  Bring continuity in the dialogue ESOT - Be helpful in formulating European guidelines  Inform the general public Press have already been active

18. 18 Further items

19. 19 Leaving Rotterdam  Do not forget your possible book contributions….  Have a last lunch with us…  We wise you a comfortable and safe journey home