Authors
S Vasudevan, MS, MCh, Associate Editor, Kerala Medical Journal; Additional Professor, Department of Urology, Govt. Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala – 695011, India.
Abstract
Introduction: India faces a growing crisis of end-organ damage, driven by rising lifestyle diseases, leading to a severe imbalance between the increasing number of patients needing organ transplantation and the limited availability of organs. Challenges include insufficient transplant centers, high procedure costs, and inadequate financial resources.
Current Status of Transplantation: Despite the establishment of the Indian Transplant Registry to collect vital data, organ transplantation rates remain critically low. Approximately 150,000 patients await renal transplants and 100,000 for liver transplants, with only a small fraction receiving timely organs. Live donation faces multi-factorial difficulties.
Deceased Organ Donation Initiatives: The Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) legalized deceased organ donation (cadaver transplantation), which is crucial to address the organ shortage. Organizations like MOHAN Foundation have pioneered efforts, creating transparent, seniority-based online recipient registries, exemplified by the successful Tamil Nadu model. This success was replicated in Kerala through the Kerala Network for Organ Sharing (Mrithasanjeevani), facilitating numerous kidney, liver, and heart transplants. Similar programs, Jeevandan in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and the Rajasthan Network for Organ Sharing, are now expanding these initiatives.
Conclusion: While progress is slow, the increasing adoption and success of deceased organ donation programs, supported by legal frameworks and dedicated organizations, offer a promising pathway to overcome the organ scarcity in India, ultimately saving more lives.