Equitable access to organ donation and transplantation

The Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT) program at Canadian Blood Services is committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace and to fostering an organ and tissue donation and transplantation system in Canada that is based on trust, fairness and equitable access to donation and transplantation for all. OTDT will embrace principles of diversity, equity and inclusion to better understand and protect cultural safety, and to improve outcomes and service to donors and patients in Canada, while also ensuring all team members, stakeholders and partners are treated with dignity, courtesy and respect.

Understanding the barriers, challenges and opportunities related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, language, religion, mental and physical ability, and socio-economic or immigration status is foundational to the success of the OTDT program and the national system. It is, therefore, essential that the OTDT program assess its activities and outcomes from this perspective to avoid ignoring, perpetuating, or increasing systemic inequities. Accordingly, the OTDT program will place increased equity and diversity-based analysis in the development, assessment and improvement of its internal and external activities and initiatives.

Building Capacity - Supporting our Team

All staff participation in San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Online Training
Wabishki Bishiko Skaanj/White Horse: A learning pathway to foster better Indigenous cultural competence in Canadian health care and research
Canadian Blood Services DEI - OTDT program integration with CBS' DEI strategy and RAP

Stakeholder and System Development Activities

Environmental Scan
Stakeholder survey
Data project
Literature review 2021-2022
Public opinion polling of underserved populations and regions - OTDT Awareness and Approval - March 2021
Knowledge exchange events: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation
- Webinar #2: Feb 2022 - Presentations from CDTRP, CanSolveCKD, CST, Health Canada, Canadian Blood Services.
- Webinar #1: June 2021 - Presentations focused on Indigenous Focused Projects; Living Donation and Transplantation