SYDNEY—As per recent reports, presented by medical experts, it has been illustrated that the number of patients signing up for kidney transplants has declined drastically.

As per the findings, it has been discovered that only 18 percent of Australian patients under the age of 65 are a part of the waiting list of transplants. It has been uncovered that the portion is much lower than that encountered in other western countries, including 48 percent in UK, 49 percent in France and 33 percent in US.

It has been unveiled that the number of dialysis patients has not declined, but surely the number of patients on the waiting lists has declined across all age groups.

Professor Bruce Pussell from Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital stated that the transplantation is a better way of treating the patients, instead of keeping them on dialysis. Moreover, it has been administered that the mortality rates decline substantially after transplantation.

However, he has raised concern regarding the less number of patients coming forward for transplantation, despite the facilities being provided and the benefits.

He suggested that might be the reason behind the decline can be due to the decision of the local kidney doctors, who upon examination recommend a few patients for transplantation and don't allow others, despite the fact that every patient is fit for transplantation and can be benefitted.

He demonstrated the statistics of 2009, which showed that over 10,000 Australians were on dialysis, but only 11 percent of them were on the waiting list for transplantation.

He added that the recent national transplant waiting list guidelines even have made the situation more worse, as the guidelines demand that for a person to undergo transplantation, he should have at least 80 percent survival rate.

He said, "The guidelines are vague. A review of guidelines by an independent body and community involvement so that we all know exactly where we stand in terms of putting people on the waiting list."

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