The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Plan to popularise cadaver transplant

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 27, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Plan to popularise cadaver transplant

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, SEPT. 26. Suitable changes will be made to the law to popularise cadaver transplant, according to R. Anbumani, Union Health Minister.

The objective was to "ease out the conditions" for cadaver transplants, while ensuring that irregularities do not take place, he said.

A national ethical authority to oversee cadaver transplants would be set up, Dr. Anbumani told presspersons after inaugurating a free cardiac check-up camp, organised by Lions Club of Anna Nagar, here today to observe World Heart Day.

Low level of awareness of cadaver transplant — procedure of retrieving organs from brain-dead persons, including heart, kidney and liver, and using them as replacements on living persons — , lack of facilities and absence of a time-bound programme came in the way of its popularisation.

While the Government could build up infrastructure, the private sector and non-government organisations had a great role in creating awareness of the benefits of cadaver transplant.

Earlier addressing the meeting, Dr. Anbumani said the private sector and the non-governmental organisations must play an active role in controlling the spread of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, AIDS and blindness and cardio-vascular ailments, especially in rural areas. This was imperative, as the number of those afflicted with non-communicable diseases was estimated to overtake than those with communicable diseases. Though healthcare to all was the Government's duty, it was unable to discharge it owing to financial constraints.

Hailing the activities of Lions Club International (District 324-A-1), the Health Minister said the Ministry would utilise the services of the NGOs and the voluntary organisation during its launch of the `population stabilisation' programme.

Award presented

Dr. Anbumani presented the Melvin Jones Millennium Award (for 2004), instituted by the club, to Rajan Sethuratnam, senior cardiothoracic surgeon, Madras Medical Mission (MMM).

Dr. Sethuratnam, said the Heart Foundation Trust, a collaboration of the Lions Club and the MMM, could do much more commendable work with the Ministry's support.

Noting that the cost of a cardiac surgery was Rs.1.50 lakh, he said that if each of the 600 Lions Clubs in the State selected a patient a month and mobilised Rs.1 lakh, the MMM would bear the rest of the cost.

The Lions District Governor, N.S. Sankar, said the Lions movement was involved in various social welfare and healthcare activities, including adoption of 12 corporation schools in Chennai, and conducted eye, blood and diabetes camps.

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