Icelanders hold the world record in donating kidneys as living donors, which in the past two decades make up 70 percent of all kidney donations in the country. A total of 224 kidneys have been donated in Iceland, 139 of which came from living donors.

The Landspítali national hospital. Photo by Dagbjört Oddný Matthíasdóttir.

The Association of Kidney Patients recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and at the occasion kidney donors received recognition for their contribution. Among them were seven individuals who have donated a kidney to their spouses, Morgunbladid reports.

The association aims to honor all Icelanders who donate kidneys. Kidney implants with donations from living donors have been carried out at the Landspítali national hospital in Reykjavík since 2003 and now number 57.

According to the association, there is a shortage of organs for implant. Surveys indicate that 80 percent of Icelanders consent to donating their organs post mortem but only a few people make the effort to register their intent.

ESA