The nodal centre of ‘Jeevandan’, the comprehensive scheme envisaged to streamline organ donation programme in the State, was inaugurated on Monday at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS). The Jeevandan scheme will cover all facets of organ donation, including declaration of brain death, infrastructure improvement, maintaining a website with real-time information on recipients, donors and organising public awareness programmes.
Health officials said that the nodal centre of Jeevandan, which at the moment has two computers and a room on the NIMS premises, will be developed in a phased manner. The nodal centre of Jeevandan is yet to have an active website that will enable needy patients to register their names and be eligible for receiving organs through organ donation.
The health officials said that they will soon deal with major issues such as brain dead declaration at Government hospitals, recruitment of grief counsellors to guide relatives of the brain dead, and importantly, develop cadaver transplantation teams at Government hospitals.
“The Jeevandan scheme is at its initial stage. We will develop facilities at Government hospitals in the capital for transplantation,” Special Chief Secretary, Health, Medical and Family Welfare, G. Sudhir said after the inauguration.
Doctors felt that there is a need to maintain a kidney registry. “In the end, the scheme should be able to provide organs to the most deserved patient without any prejudice,” said senior nephrologist, Dr. A. Gopal Kishan.
Experts said that Government hospitals will have to play a bigger role in cadaver transplantation.
“It is a good start but a lot of ground has to be covered. The hospitals receive a large number of brain dead patients. Hence, cadaver transplantation programme at the hospitals should be developed,” said former Principal of Gandhi Medical College Dr. Pradeep Desphande.
Experts said that cadaver transplantation at Government hospitals need round-the-clock dedicated transplant teams and 24-hour transplantation cell. “Efforts should be made to make sure that the scheme is transparent. The Jeevandan website should be able to display real time information on the availability of organs,” said Dr. Kishan.
Director of NIMS Dr. A. Dharma Rakshak said that efforts are on to rope in top doctors to form an Appropriate Authorities for Cadaver Transplantation.
