A new possibility is now open for Icelandic citizens to undergo organ transplantations at Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SU) in Gothenburg. In so doing, Sahlgrenska asserts its leading position in Scandinavia in Transplantation Medicine.

Sahlgrenska International Care AB (Sahlgrenska I.C.) and Sjúkratryggingar Íslands (The Icelandic Health Insurance Administration) have signed a Letter of Intent as a step towards treating Icelandic patients with organ failure at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

The intention is that the co-operation will begin January 1, 2010 and continue until at least December 31, 2013.

The Transplant Institute at SU is well-reputed internationally. During 2008 over 300 transplantations were carried out and the Institute is expanding.

• We take this as an acknowledgement of SU’s Transplant Institute and it is very gratifying to be able to offer this possibility to the citizens of Iceland, say Marika Qvist, CEO of Sahlgrenska I.C.

There are few kidney transplants with living donors currently performed in Iceland. With this limited capacity, Iceland is dependent on co-operating with a larger centre for other organ transplants.

• The agreement is a big success for us and proof that we are very strong in the field of transplantation medicine, not only in Sweden but also in Scandinavia as a whole, says Professor Michael Olausson, Head of the Transplant Institute at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

• We have recently moved to new and more suitable premises. This move shows that Region Västra Götaland and SU are both willing to invest and develop Transplantation Medicine at the Institute and it could have positively affected the decision of the Icelandic authorities to co-operate with SU, he adds.

For further information:

Marika Qvist, CEO of Sahlgrenska I.C., tel. +46 703 705 131

Michael Olausson, Head of the Transplant Institute at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, tel. +46 703343 131

Sahlgrenska I.C. is a company owned by Region Västra Götaland. Its mission is to actively profile the quality medical care services available in Region Västra Götaland on the international market.

Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SU, is one of the largest hospitals in Europe. With a highly qualified and dedicated staff as well as state-of-the-art medical technology, SU is able to offer some of the most advanced treatments available.

Sjúkratryggingar Íslands is the public authority that administrates important parts of the Icelandic health insurance system.