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Guatemala · MSPAS · National Transplant System
Donating in Guatemala
Guatemala operates under Decreto 91-97 of Congress, the General Law on Donation and Transplantation of Organs and Tissues (1997, amended 2009). Living donation sustains virtually the entire kidney transplant system
In 2023, 111 kidney transplants were performed: 104 from living donors and only 7 from deceased donors (GODT). Deceased donation rate: 0.39 pmp
Key figures for Guatemala
Kidney transplants 2023
111
total (GODT, rate 6.13 pmp)
Living donor
94%
of kidney transplants (104 of 111)
Deceased donor
0.39 pmp
7 donors in 2023 (GODT)
Population
18.1M
inhabitants (WHO estimate)
Source: GODT (Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation) · MSPAS Guatemala
The public system
How donation works in Guatemala
Governing body and law
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) is the governing body of the transplant system. Decreto 91-97 of Congress (General Law on Donation and Transplantation of Organs and Tissues, enacted in 1997 and amended by Decreto 44-2009) is the current legal framework.
The system operates under express consent: the donor's authorization during life is required, or, failing that, that of family members in the order established by law. MSPAS delegates organ procurement and transplantation to accredited hospitals.
How to express your wishes
- 1
State your wish to be a donor during life before MSPAS or on your identity document
- 2
If you wish to donate while living (kidney, liver segment): you must be of legal age with full legal capacity and pass a complete medical evaluation
- 3
Share your decision with your family — family consent is decisive in clinical practice
- 4
The national system assigns the organ based on objective medical criteria (compatibility, urgency, time on waiting list)
Living donation
The pillar of kidney transplantation in Guatemala
In Guatemala, living donation is the backbone of kidney transplantation. In 2023, 94% of kidney transplants came from related or altruistic living donors
Living donor requirements
- Over 18 years old, full legal capacity
- Demonstrable blood relation or emotional bond with the recipient
- Complete medical, psychological, and compatibility evaluation
- Documented informed consent before health authority
Coverage and legal framework
- IGSS covers the procedure for social security affiliates
- MSPAS provides care at accredited public hospitals
- Decreto 91-97 prohibits any financial compensation
- Donation is an altruistic and voluntary act by law
Main centers
Guatemalan institutions with active kidney transplant programs
Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS)
Guatemala City · Leading kidney transplant center in the country · Consolidated living donor program
Hospital General San Juan de Dios
Guatemala City · National referral hospital · Kidney transplant program
Hospital Roosevelt
Guatemala City · National hospital with specialized nephrology and transplant services
The challenge of deceased donation
Only 7 deceased donors in 2023
Guatemala has the greatest potential for growth in deceased donor procurement in Central America, given its population of 18 million
Featured milestone
Living donation saves lives in Guatemala
"In Guatemala, living kidney donation represents virtually all transplants. Each living donor is a silent hero who offers a chance at life to those waiting" — National Transplant System, MSPAS Guatemala
With 104 kidney transplants from living donors in 2023 versus just 7 from deceased donors, Guatemala illustrates the paradox of many Latin American countries: family solidarity compensates for the shortcomings of hospital procurement systems. Strengthening donor detection in intensive care units is the key so that thousands of Guatemalans on the waiting list can access a transplant
Resources and information
MSPAS maintains information channels about the national transplant program
Talk to your family
In Guatemala, living donation is the most concrete pathway to kidney transplantation. If you have a family member who needs a kidney, learn about the living donor program requirements. And if you believe in deceased donation, communicate your wishes to your family
Verified sources
This page summarizes public information from MSPAS, IGSS, and the GODT (WHO/ONT) about organ donation in Guatemala. Medical and legal decisions are yours and your healthcare team's