Organ donations may not be just a family affair any longer
NEW DELHI: There may be relief at hand for those in the longwinded queue for organ transplants, with the Union government planning to open up organ exchange between unrelated individuals.
Currently, most organ donations happen within families; however, two blood groups often do not match, and the patient has to wait indefinitely for availability. Now, the health ministry is planning to allow one family to exchange with another if there is a match. Plans are also afoot to allow health insurance for donors, to fix legal loopholes, and to facilitate organ harvesting from the deceased, a government official aware of the plans said.
The move assumes significance given that as per health ministry data, India conducts only 6,000 kidney transplants every year against a requirement of about 200,000. Heart transplant rates are even worse— about 10 to 15 transplants every year, even as 50,000 persons die of heart failure. Similarly, an estimated 200,000 Indians die of liver failure or liver cancer annudo ally, about 10–15% of which can be saved with a timely transplant.
The health ministry has kicked off virtual brainstorming sessions with subject experts who will present their findings during the so-called chintan shivir, the official cited above said on the condition of anonymity. Non-government organizations, state government officials, transplant surgeons and legal experts are among those attending the 10 sessions, the official said.
“We are also in discussions with the insurance regulator to make provision for health insurance for organ donors. Right now, these insurance companies not offer health insurance to such individuals,” the official added.
Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered till press time.
Swaps among close relatives such as mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister and spouse are already permitted in law.
“However, we are getting demands for other-than near relative donors to be given permission for swap donations,” the official said, adding all these issues will be discussed at the chintan shivir. All transplants in India have to be mandatorily approved by an official authorisation committee.
Dr Anup Kumar, head of urology and kidney transplant department at Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital said, “Near relatives are first-degree family members who are approved as per law for organ donation, and other-than near relatives like friends or any other family are not permitted in law for organ donation.
A special committee is constituted to look after this, which is still not allowed for swap donations.