January 2026 saw the highest number of organ transplants ever recorded in Israel in a single month, with 54 transplants performed on 47 patients, significantly higher than the previous record set in 2024, when about 36 transplants were performed in one month.
Organ donations were received at various hospitals across the country. Two donations were received at Hadassah, Rambam, Shaare Zedek, and Beilinson hospitals. One donation was received at Wolfson, LAGALIL, and Soroka hospitals. This distribution enabled transplants to be performed at different medical centers while coordinating among many teams simultaneously.
During the month, seven heart transplants, nine lung transplants, nine liver transplants, and 21 kidney transplants were performed. Of the nine lung transplants, seven were double lung transplants, and two were single lung transplants. One of the lung transplants was performed using lungs donated from Cyprus.
Alongside organ transplants, there were also many tissue transplants. In January, 78 corneas, six heart valves, and nine bone and tendon implants were transplanted. Additionally, a patient received skin grafts for burn treatment.
Almost a thousand Israelis still in need of kidney transplant
In Israel, around 1,400 patients are waiting for organ transplants. Most of the waiting patients, nearly 1,000 people, are in need of a kidney transplant, with most being treated with dialysis. More than 200 patients are waiting for lung transplants, about 130 are waiting for a liver transplant, and about 100 Israelis are waiting for heart transplants.
In 2025, 56 patients died while waiting for a transplant, a decrease compared to 72 patients who died in 2024.
Meanwhile, the number of new additions to the waiting list decreased, from 848 in 2024 to 728 in 2025. In the past year, 131 patients were moved up the list, either because they were registered for the ADI card or because of an organ donation from a close family member.