Dr Mark Petrie, Director of the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service, said the number of donor hearts available for transplant was still an issue despite an increase in the number of transplants being carried out in Scotland.
The need for donors is also likely to increase in the future because of an increasingly older population and because the current levels of obesity are expected to lead to a higher incidence of conditions which can cause heart problems.
Dr Petrie said the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service was keen to pursue all strategies to increase organ donation, including an opt-out policy.
Figures published in July show the number of heart transplants across the UK is down 13% compared to last year, and the number of patients on the waiting list has increased by 12%.
Cardiologists south of the Border have warned of "critical" shortages of donor hearts. The Evening Times has launched a campaign to persuade the Scottish Government to introduce an opt-out system of organ donation.
This would mean that every- one is considered to be a potential donor unless they opt out or there are family objections.
Around 52 MSPs have signalled their support for the campaign so far.
Dr Mark Petrie, a consultant cardiologist at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank, said: "The Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service is keen to pursue all strategies to increase organ donation.
"An opt-out policy is one of the many strategies which is regularly discussed.
"The number of heart transplants is increasing but there remain issues in relation to the number of donor hearts which are available.
"The Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Strategy, which was launched in February, has put in place a number of review and scrutiny mechanisms to ensure we can make the best use of those organs that are donated.
"We are working both within the Scottish Transplant Group and UK Cardiothoracic Advisory Group towards the goal of increased donation.
"The move to make consideration of organ donation compulsory when registering for a driver's license was welcome."
A system of presumed consent is already in place in around 20 countries worldwide and is supported by the British Medical Association and major charities including The British Heart Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Kidney Research UK.
A motion in support of our campaign has already been signed by more than 23 MSPs.
Wales has now signalled its intent to switch to a system of presumed consent in 2015.
It would make Wales the first country in the UK to move away from the current "opt in" organ donation system.
caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk
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WE need your help to make this happen and save more lives. Sign our petition to lend your support to an opt-out system for organ donation at www.eveningtimes.co.uk
There is now also a printable version of the petition available on our website.
We need as many of you as possible to distribute it in community centres, churches, mosques, leisure centres and public places so we can achieve our target 10,000 signatures.
You can also sign up on Twitter and Facebook via http://bit.ly/etoptin. And don't forget to send the link to all of your friends and relatives.
In the meantime, to join the existing national organ donor register, text "ETDONATE" to 61611.
Texts are charged at the usual standard network rate (any texts sent in reply are free of charge to the recipient). You can also join the list by calling the NHS Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23. Lines are open 24 hours a day all year round. Calls are charged at your contracted rate for local calls.
Those who wish to register online can also do so by filling out a form on www.organdonationscotland.org/nhs_organ_donor _register.html
