Biden administration announces major planned overhaul of organ transplant network

The United States’ organ transplant system is set to undergo significant changes following a plan announced by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration on Wednesday. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which has faced criticism over long waiting times, discarded organs, and faulty technology, has been managing the organ transplant monopoly for 37 years, but under the new plan, other non-profit organizations can bid on contracts to handle specific organs.

Carole Johnson, the HRSA administrator, called the almost-40-year-old system and its governing statute outdated, and said the time was right to overhaul the system as technologies had improved, and government processes about transparency had also advanced.

Alongside the overhaul, the Biden administration also launched a website to provide anonymous data on donors, waitlists, and recipients, to help patients and their families make informed decisions about where to receive transplants.

However, some experts cautioned the government to move slowly in implementing the changes, fearing the delicate trust and coordination needed for the system could be affected.

It is not clear when the new changes will come into effect, but UNOS’s contract comes up for renewal later this year.