In over two decades, only 734 patients waiting for kidney transplants and 313 patients waiting for liver transplants have benefited from cadaver donations. While the organ donations have seen a boost this year with 22 donations so far, cumulative statistics since 1997 show that much more awareness is needed about the cause.
According to the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC), as many as 8,331 kidney patients and 3,049 liver patients have registered with them for transplants since 1997. But only 448 cadaver organ donations have been done during the period, which resulted in 734 kidney, 313 liver, 11 lung, and 113 heart donations. The statistics reveal the vast gap between the requirement of organs and the actual number of donations. “There is a willingness to donate organs. But the families have to be approached in the right manner. More awareness is needed among people as well as the medical fraternity about the process of cadaver organ donations,” said Dr. Aakash Shukla, Head of Gastroenterology at Sion Hospital. He said religious beliefs continue to be a big setback for the donations. “Awareness among religious leaders as well as the youth by introducing the concept or organ donations in the curriculum can help,” he said.
Experts say live organ donations outnumber cadaver organ donations. In cadaver donations, organs are taken from a donor who has been declared brain dead and his or her relatives have given their consent. In live organ donations, a kidney or part of the liver is taken from a living person. “We should aim at reversing this trend,” said ZTCC president Dr. S.K. Mathur.
The cadaver organ donation programme picked up after 2014 when the number of donations increased considerably. After this year’s positive start with 22 donations in merely 60 days, Dr. Mathur hopes the trend continues.