Novartis İlaç Launches ‘Life-Saving Leave’ Campaign for 26,000 Patients Awaiting Organ Donation in Turkey

An awareness campaign was launched during Organ Donation Week on 3-9 November in cooperation with Novartis Pharmaceutical and the Organ Transplant Coordinators Association (ONKOD) to raise awareness for organ donation. Within the scope of the campaign, a memorable campaign film was created with the slogan "Life-Saving Permission" to highlight in a striking manner that as a society we have left those waiting for organ donation unanswered and have sometimes ignored them, and to invite everyone to self-criticism. With this film, while emphasizing that families could save many lives with a single permission, at the same time a call was made to those struggling to hold on to life and waiting for organ transplantation not to remain indifferent. Regarding the campaign, ONKOD Board Chair Dr. Yavuz Selim Çınar stated: "In Turkey, many families do not permit organ donation of their deceased relatives, and as a result many patients waiting for organ transplantation die because they cannot find a suitable organ. With this campaign, while emphasizing the importance of organ donation, we are telling families 'Do not remain indifferent to those trying to hold on to life. Give permission for organ donation and you too can save a life' and we are calling on them to permit organ donation.'

About the 'Life-Saving Permission' Campaign Film:

In the video shot within the scope of the campaign, reactions to the fact that no one helped an actor who suddenly suffered a heart attack in a café according to the scenario were recorded with hidden cameras. With the question "Is it not strange that no one helps someone waiting for help to hold on to life? But then, why don't we help the 26,000 patients waiting for organs to survive in Turkey?" attention was drawn to thousands of patients waiting for organ donation who are being ignored. The campaign, which made effective use of many different channels, particularly social media platforms, created awareness to bring about behavioral change in society and to give hope to thousands of patients waiting for organ donation.