Azerbaijan’s first-ever donor heart transplant, also the first of its kind in the South Caucasus, marked a historic milestone for the country’s healthcare system, Kamran Musayev, honorary chairman of the Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, has said.

Speaking to journalists at a conference marking the first anniversary of the operation, Musayev noted that public interest in organ donation has increased significantly over the past year, according to Report.

He said the growing interest is evident both in the number of people registering as potential donors and in the rising demand for organ transplants.

“Heart transplantation requires donors who have been diagnosed with brain death. In such cases, their families must consent to organ donation, or individuals can register their decision in advance through a special registry,” Musayev explained.

He added that the vast majority of people who voluntarily registered with the Health Ministry’s Coordination Center over the past year did so relatively recently.

“This is clear evidence of growing public trust in domestic medicine. At the same time, we are seeing a significant increase in the number of patients who need transplants,” he said.

Musayev said that the waiting list includes not only adults under the age of 60 but also young children aged four to five.