As far as India is concerned, of the total 18,378 organ transplants scheduled to take place in the country in 2023 — the highest ever in a year — 10% will be given to foreign nationals who travelled to India for treatment, while more than six in 10 living organ donors were women, data released by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) showed.
World organ donation data?
According to the data, 63% of living donors were women while 77% of deceased donors were men. While 30% of recipients were women, their proportion was the highest among lung recipients at 47%.
According to the data, 197 lung transplants also took place in the country. NOTTO said India achieved another milestone in 2023: more than 1,000 deceased organ donors in a year for the first time, breaking last year’s record. Deceased-donor transplants are set to increase from 837 in 2013 to 2,935 in 2023.
There were 1,851 organ transplants by foreign nationals in the country and about 78% of these took place in Delhi-NCR. A total of 4,426 organ transplants took place in Delhi in 2023 and more than 32% of them were done by foreign nationals.
According to the data, Rajasthan stood second with 116 transplants to foreign nationals, while West Bengal was next with 88 transplants. Significantly, the data shows that nine organ transplants to foreigners were done from organs of unrelated deceased donors. Three organ transplants were done in Tamil Nadu, two each in Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Punit Bhuwania, Consultant Nephrologist and Transplant Physician at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, Mumbai, explained, “Organ donation is a powerful act of generosity that gives hope and a second chance at life to people facing end-stage liver or kidney disease or even organ failure, who are struggling because other treatment options have failed. By choosing to become an organ donor, a person’s organs can help people suffering from serious health conditions.”
He explained, “Organs available for donation include the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and intestines. In addition, various tissues such as corneas, heart valves, skin and bone can also be donated, providing significant benefits to many patients in need. Remember, one deceased organ donor can save eight lives and a pair of kidneys can free two individuals from the need for dialysis. A donated liver can be split, benefiting two patients awaiting transplant. Two lungs from one donor can provide life-saving support to two recipients. A pancreas donation can save a person’s life. In addition, a donated heart can bring hope and happiness to someone in need.”
Dr. Punit Bhuwania elaborates, “Organ donation can take the form of living donation, where the donor is still alive, and even cadaveric donation, which happens when the donor has passed away. However, millions of people lose their precious lives due to the unavailability of organs. The demand for organ donation is very high, while only a small percentage of people donate organs. The waiting list for organs is very long and thus, many recipients struggle to get organs and suffer silently. Apart from the increasing need for organs, there are also many myths associated with these topics that must be dispelled without any delay.”
Myths related to organ donation
Myth #1: Only young people can donate organs
fact: This statement is false. Anyone can register for organ donation at any time and donate organs regardless of their age. Do not believe any kind of rumours or social media posts. A person’s health condition will be checked, after which he will be eligible for organ donation.
Myth #2: Family members are charged if a person decides to donate organs
fact: Remember, organ, eye and tissue donation does not cost the donor’s family anything. So, be confident, come forward and take a vital step in donating organs and changing people’s lives. Become an organ donor and encourage others to do the same to improve the survival rate of people suffering from liver and kidney diseases.
Dr. Punit Bhuwania said, “The need of the hour is to avoid believing in myths and create awareness by educating people on how organ donation saves lives. Every organ transplant brings new hope not only to the recipients but also to their loved ones and develops an optimistic outlook towards life. It is a known fact that one donor can save up to eight lives and thus, there is a need to encourage organ donation in society. Organ donation is an opportunity to help others as they have a poor quality of life or may be bedridden. Many people die without receiving an organ. Hence, organ donation is known to give a new life.”
He concluded, “Living donation is a powerful option in cases of kidney and liver transplantation. A family member can donate part of 1 kidney or liver to save their loved one’s life, once eligible. Organ donation helps a family overcome their grief and cope with their loss, knowing that their loved one can save lives and make a difference. By having open discussions on topics like living donation or sharing personal experiences about receiving or giving organs, it is possible to create awareness at a large scale. So, donate organs and save lives.”
