Marco A. Arizmendi-Villarreal, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Ulises D. Cruz-Sanjuan, Servicio de Trasplantes, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Alejandro Díaz González-Colmenero, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Javier Sánchez-Maldonado, Servicio de Trasplantes, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Allina P. Flores-Mendoza, Servicio de Trasplantes, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Homero A. Zapata-Chavira, Servicio de Trasplantes, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Rubén R. Adame-Avila, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Gerardo E. Muñoz-Maldonado, Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Edelmiro Pérez-Rodríguez, Servicio de Trasplantes, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Francisco J. Reyna-Sepúlveda, Servicio de Trasplantes, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González,” Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted transplant activity worldwide, particularly in Latin America. Objective: To evaluate organ donation status in Mexico 2 years after Mexican health authorities implemented the National Plan for the Reactivation of Organ Donation and Transplantation. Methods: An observational, descriptive, and retrospective study that analyzed data from the National Transplant Registry to assess trends in organ donation and transplantation during the pre- COVID (2018-2019) and post-COVID (2022-2024) periods. Results: Public sector donations decreased by 41.09%, whereas those in the private sector decreased by 26%. Kidney transplants returned to pre-pandemic levels (+1.17%). Deceased donor kidney trans-plants in the private sector decreased by 48.20%. Liver transplants increased by 20.51%, primarily those from living donors in the public sector, with an increase of 88.88%. Heart transplants increased by 44.1%. Conclusion: Inequalities persist in the aftermath of COVID-19. The public sector faces structural challenges, and the private sector relies heavily on living donor donations. Strengthening federal coordination and public awareness initiatives is essential to sustaining growth and equity in transplant programs.
Keywords: Tissue and organ procurement. Transplantation. COVID-19. Mexico. Delivery of health care.