Organ and Tissue Donation

Although every effort is made to save and keep a patient alive, unfortunately there are times when the patient dies. Death must be certified, in accordance with strict criteria, by a doctor not involved in the transplant. This usually takes place during a stay in intensive care. Once death has been certified, organ donation can be considered. In Switzerland, everyone is free to choose whether or not to be a donor and to record their decision on a donor card. Above all, they should inform their loved ones of their choice.

In our country, 185 deceased individuals donated their organs in 2025, enabling 643 transplant recipients to look to the future.  
At the Valais Hospital, between 10 and 15 people become organ donors each year.  

At the Valais Hospital, organ retrieval takes place in Sion within the operating theatre. It is carried out by qualified staff sent on site by the university hospitals, in collaboration with specialist staff from the Valais Hospital. The transplant itself takes place at the university hospitals.

The Valais Hospital has a local coordination team for organ and tissue donation, which is also responsible for continuing professional development and quality assurance. An important task of this team is to improve the identification of potential donors so as to prevent, where all conditions are met, a person who has consented to organ donation from dying without any organs being retrieved. It also ensures that the wishes of the deceased are respected at all times.

In Switzerland, one to two people die every week whilst waiting for an organ. 
More than a thousand people are currently on the waiting list for a kidney, liver, heart or lung transplant.
Please consider organ donation and record your decision on a donor card and by informing your loved ones.

If you have any questions, the local organ and tissue donation coordination team is here to help!