Union Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal alluded to the urgent need to bridge the gap between the number of patients who need organ transplant and the number of potential donors, while speaking at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on wednesday.
Speaking at a function for fecilitation of liver donors as Sir Ganga Ram Hospital celebrated “Liver Donor Day,” Mr. Sibal congratulated the hospital transplant team for the over 400 successful performed liver transplants. He also noted that there was a need to put in place a systematic national training programme aimed at training doctors from across the country in cutting edge transplant techniques.
“These doctors could then be encouraged to fan out and set up transplant centres across the country. This coupled with measures like spreading awareness and incorporating the concept of organ donation in school and college curricula will go a long way in redeeming the situation,” he added.
Hospital Board of Management chairman Dr. B. K. Rao said: “Successfully completing 400 liver transplants brings joy as well as a lot of responsibility. We are also taking the initiative to help other transplant centres to develop and create awareness about organ donation.’’
Hospital Director (Liver Transplant) Dr. A. S. Soin said: “As far as awareness about organ donation is concerned, the current state of affairs in the country is dismal. This probably accounts for the fact that the organ donation rate in the country is among the lowest anywhere. Knowing that organ donation is safe and can help save lives will help a lot of people decide in favour of donating organs.’’
Doctors also said awareness levels need to be raised so as to ensure that more and more people pledge to donate their organs after death. In this context it was pointed out that a single brain dead person can donate as many as 30 organs and tissues and save as many as six lives.
