Liver transplant would no longer be performed at UC Davis Medical Center in Greater Sacramento. The University officials clarified that as soon as an alternative arrangement is made for the existing patients, the center would close liver transplant program.

"The resources to keep the program going really are more than we can spend at this time," said Dr. Allan Siefkin, Chief medical officer.

The Liver Transplant Program at the Medical Center has never brought any gains. But the current economic crisis has created further pressure on the program as the financing has become difficult.

The closure will affect 37 patients who are waiting for the transplant. 45 patients are also in the screening process to determine eligibility. However, 255 patients who have already had liver transplants would not be affected by the decision as they would receive their follow-up care at UC Davis.

The number of transplants performed at the center has dropped by more than half in the past year, and is covering just above the minimum level that federal authorities set for Medicare reimbursement. According to the set rules 10 liver transplants should be performed annually, and so far in 2008, UC Davis has done 11, according to Siefkin. The year before, it did 25.

The chief medical officer described the reason for the decline  on both a shortage of organ donors and on increased demand for livers from other transplant programs in the north state.