Boosting Organ Donation in India

Source-This post on Boosting Organ Donation in India has been created based on the article “Organ donation hit by poor identification of brain death cases” published in “The Hindu” on 3 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus–GS Paper-2– issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Context– The article highlights the need for better identification and certification of brain death cases, increased awareness among the public, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations to improve the low organ donation rates in India.

What is the current state of organ donation in India?

1) As per the Union Health Ministry, there is a low rate of organ donations in India, which is less than one donor per million people each year.

2) According to transplant data, 16,041 organs, mostly kidneys, were donated in 2022. Delhi topped the country with 3,818 donations.

What are the reasons for low organ donation rates in India?

The main reason for low organ donation rates in India is the poor identification and certification of brain death cases, even though there are many potential cases available.

 What are the directives issued by the DGHS to accelerate organ donation in India?

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, to address the issue-

1) Protocol for Identifying Organ Donation Opportunities -The Standard Operating Procedure mandates that doctors on duty, assisted by transplant coordinators, must recognize every potential case of brain death admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and ascertain whether the individual had made a commitment to donate their organs.

2) Facilitate Organ Donation Discussions with Families– If the individual had not committed to donate their organs, then hospital authorities should make family members aware of the opportunity to donate organs before the heart stops.

3) Ensuring Compliance with Organ Donation Regulations– The DGHS has asked all the hospitals to facilitate and monitor the certification of brain death cases. This will help in ensuring compliance with the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act and Rules.

Read more- Unique ID for organ donation

What should be the way forward?

Awareness Campaigns -The Health Ministry has asked the hospitals to install ‘Required Request Display Boards’ in important places. These boards will tell people that if someone has brain death or a heart attack, donating organs like kidneys, liver, heart, pancreas, eyes, skin, and bones can save lives.

Question for the practice

What are the reasons for low organ donation rates in India? Highlight the steps that can be taken to speed up organ donation in India?