Indore makes a mark in organ donation

Organ donations are on the rise in Indore, taking the city to the top league of donors.

Organ donations are on the rise in Indore, taking the city to the top league of donors.

Organs of a 59-year-old being carried to the ambulance for transplant at Bombay hospital. (Shankar Mourya/HT file photo)

“We are now ranked second (amongst cities) when a sum total is calculated for eye, skin and cadaver donations. It’s a big feat for Indore, where only one body was donated in 2009,” said Sanjay Dubey, divisional commissioner and chairman of the Indore Organ Donation society.

Tamil Nadu sees the highest number of donated organs.

In November 2015, it received the best state award in the area of cadaver organ donation, with Union health minister JP Nadda congratulating the J Jayalalithaa government for its endeavour in organ donations.

Dubey opined that the creation of the society in Indore changed the course of the city in this field.

“Earlier, there was no proper medium to donate an organ. People were not even aware about it. There were taboos and a long list of formalities. We cut down all of this and now, the process has been simplified. We offer health insurance policies to the family members of donors and will be awarding a cash award as well. This has helped the field move forward,” he added.

The rise in the number of organ donations can also be seen by the increase in the number of bodies received in donation by medical colleges.

“In 2015, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College received 22 body donations. This is a huge contrast to the nine body donations in 2013. This is a major achievement for Indore,” said Dr Sanjay Dixit, vice dean of the college.

However, Indore still has a long way to go with regards to the donation of kidneys and livers. “We are making our mark in that area as well. But a number of states in south India fare way much higher than us. However, it is only now that we have started making a green corridor and transporting the organ to other cities by air. This facility is still not present in government hospitals,” said Dr Dixit.

ACHIEVEMENT

Year Cadavers donation Kidney transplants

2011 04 06

2012 06 09

2013 09 20

2014 27 44

2015 22 58

2016 01