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June 24, 2019, Goa: The first organ transplant in India was conducted in the 1970s and it was a kidney transplant. Over four decades later, more than 5,00,000 people across the country die each year due to non-availability of organs. The challenges pertaining to organ donation include an interplay of sociocultural factors, beliefs and superstitions, lack of communication and organizational support.
To make people aware about the importance and benefits of organ donation, Apollo Hospitals today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Woman Doctors Wing of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to drive Organ Donation across the country. Under the terms of the MoU, Apollo Hospitals would work with the IMA Woman Doctors Wing to promote organ donation among the general public and put across the message of the importance of organ donation in saving lives using various platforms.
The demand for organs outstrips supply in almost every country of the world, and for patients with organ failure, the wait for an organ can be measured in years. India’s organ donation rate is one of the lowest in the World with only 0.8 per Ten lakh (10,00,000) people opting to donate their organs.
“There is a wide gap in the requirement and availability of organs in the country. Over one lakh (1,00,000) people die of liver diseases in the country with only one thousand (1,000) people getting a liver transplant. Over two lakh twenty thousand (2,20,000) people are awaiting kidney transplants with only 15,000 people able to get a kidney transplant,” said Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals.
“The need of the hour is to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Our goal is to work with IMA Woman’s Wing to educate the masses through a sustained educational program and help save precious lives and families,” Ms. Reddy added.
Each person can save up to 7 lives by donating their organs. Currently, India needs over 10 Lakh corneal transplants; 50,000 heart transplants and over 20,000 lung transplants.
Dr. Mona Desai, National Chairperson, IMA Woman Doctors Wing said, “The IMA is the umbrella voluntary body of doctors in the country with over more than 3.5 lakh doctors as members. We believe that doctors can play a bigger and key role in educating the general public about the benefits of organ donation as also combating the misconceptions about it. We are pleased to join hands with the Apollo Hospitals Group in this noble initiative. There is a long list of patients for organ transplants and our priority would be to spread awareness about organ donation.”
