El Reina Sofía Hospital of Córdoba has reached a historic milestone by becoming the first hospital in Spain and the second in the world in the highest number of lung transplants performed during 2024. With 131 interventions of this type, the center reaffirms its position as a national and international reference in the field of transplants, within a year in which transplant activity in Andalusia has reached record figures.
The success of the Reina Sofía Hospital in terms of lung transplants is part of a regional context that is also notable. The autonomous community has achieved a Record figure of 1.222 organ transplants in 2024, which is 18% more than in 2023, according to data presented by the Minister of Health and Consumption, Rocío Hernández.
During the press conference held at the Virgen Macarena University Hospital in Seville, Hernández highlighted the solidarity of Andalusian families, which has allowed the region to maintain a donation acceptance rate of close to 88%. The Reina Sofía Hospital also leads the regional donation rate with 72,7 donors per million population (pmp), a figure that reflects the commitment of the Cordoba population and its contribution to national leadership in this area.
Lung transplant balance: unprecedented growth
In 2024, the Reina Sofía Hospital The centre has performed a total of 337 organ transplants, which is an increase of 21% compared to the previous year. Of these operations, 99 were kidney transplants (including one in children), 77 liver transplants (10 in children), 23 heart transplants (four in children), seven pancreas transplants and 131 lung transplants. In addition, the data corresponding to tissue transplants performed by the centre are still pending.
In the whole of Andalusia, Kidney transplants were the most numerous with 728 procedures (13,5% more than in 2023), followed by liver transplants, with 297 operations (20% more). However, the notable increase in lung transplants is particularly noteworthy, with a 64% increase compared to the previous year.
The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, has acknowledged this achievement of lung transplants through its social networks, highlighting that "the results demonstrate the commitment and effort of our professionals and the solidarity of the Andalusians. Being a world reference is not a coincidence, it is the fruit of great collective work."
A successful model and a national benchmark
Progress in transplants, both lung and other organs, would not be possible without the increase in donors. During 2024, Andalusia registered 495 organ donors, 12,24% more than in 2023, when 441 were recorded. Of these donors, 323 also contributed with tissue donation, which has allowed 362 tissue transplants to be reached, 28,8% more than the previous year.
LTissue donation figures are also significant: 326 of the registered transplants correspond to corneas, which reflects the broad coverage of the Andalusian health system for this type of procedure.
El Reina Sofía Hospital The Hospital stands out not only for its figures, but also for its innovation and the quality of its procedures. The head of the Hospital's lung transplant programme, José Manuel Vaquero, accompanied Councillor Rocío Hernández during the presentation of the data and highlighted the key role of medical and technological advances in the success of transplants.
Vaquero stressed that the teamwork, coordination and continuous training of staff have enabled the hospital to achieve these successes in lung transplants. “It is essential to continue investing in resources and research to maintain this level of excellence,” he said.
Projection for the future
The success of transplants and donations in Andalusia is evidence of the constant efforts of the health system to improve the quality of life of patients. The Andalusian Government has committed to continue promoting donation and to ensure that the community's hospitals continue to be benchmarks on the national and international scene.
In this regard, Juanma Moreno reiterated that "Andalusians can feel proud of having a public health system that makes a difference worldwide. Our challenge is to continue growing and maintain ourselves as an example of management and solidarity."
With these results, the Reina Sofia Hospital in Cordoba of the Andalusian public health system It is reaffirmed as an emblem of healthcare success in Spain and a global reference in the performance of lung transplants, an achievement that transcends borders and demonstrates the value of collaboration and research in the field of health.
