Scottish organ donor numbers pass two million

The number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register in Scotland has reached a new record high of two million.

Figures highlighted by the Scottish government this week show that 38.8 per cent of the country's population are now signed up to donate organs, with efforts currently being made to encourage this trend to develop further.

In 2011/12, the number of deceased organ donors rose to 81, its highest ever total, thus meeting the targeted 50 percent increase on 2007/08 levels set by the NHS Organ Donor Taskforce.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said this represents a "fantastic achievement", noting that the two million figure exceeds the UK average, while adding that more could still be done.

"More than 600 people in Scotland are still waiting for a lifesaving transplant and across the UK three people die every day because they don't get the organ they need in time," she said.

Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant show that 29 percent of the overall UK populace have joined the Organ Donor Register, while more than 10,000 people currently need a transplant.