B.C. Transplant is processing more than double the number of organ donor registrations after rolling out a provincewide partnership with ICBC and Service B.C. earlier in 2017. 

Of the 80,828 registrations this year, 72 percent came from ICBC offices, according to data obtained from B.C. Transplant. Since February, every British Columbian visiting a driver-licensing office has been asked to register their decision, by filling out a form in person or online.

Last year, a pilot project at four licensing offices resulted in 15,000 names added to B.C.’s organ donor registry. So far in 2017, 58,402 registrations have been processed as of August 1, as well as 16,572 registrations from Service B.C. locations. According to data from B.C. transplant, there have been 115,929 names added to the registry since July 2016.

The initiative hopes close the large gap between public support for organ donation and actual registration numbers. According to B.C. Transplant’s 2016 report, 95 percent of surveyed British Columbians support organ donation, but only approximately 20 percent of people have registered their decision. Those 75 percent of unregistered supporters could potentially be reached at a high-traffic provincial service provider like ICBC—where over a million transactions took place in 2016.

"With so many British Columbians visiting our offices, it's a great opportunity to have these conversations,” president and C.E.O. Mark Blucher said in a media statement from ICBC when the initiative was announced.  

The province has seen an increase donation rates over the last few years, attributed in part to the alarming rise in overdose-related deaths. A Canadian Press report issued in June revealed that 25 percent of organs transplanted in early 2017 came from overdose victims.

B.C. saw a record-breaking 423 transplants performed in 2016 and 285 so far in 2017, but there still 635 people wait-listed for a transplant. Registration is only one step towards a successful transplant—families are consulted at the time of death about changes in the deceased’s decision. But the initiative with ICBC suggests a promising trend in public education and discussion of the issue that may contribute to more lives saved.