For many U.K.-based Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in need of an organ transplantation, the wait can be gruelling.
With very few Asians coming forward to donate organs because of a lack of awareness, the National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is now trying to encourage more people to come forward to donate organs.
NHSBT will work with the Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network (MOHAN) Foundation to help train transplant coordinators understand the cultural needs of minorities.
According to National Health Service data, Asians in the U.K. wait a year longer than people of other races, and also have three times the organ need of any other community.
NHSBT and MOHAN Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Friday. Through the MoU, NHSBT will help to formulate guidelines on how to approach families of brain dead donors. It will also help form policies to recognise trigger criteria for brain death, and also on optimising the potential donor.
The pact was signed by Sunil Shroff of MOHAN Foundation and James Neuberger, associate medical director for organ donation and transplantation, NHSBT, in the presence of J. Radhakrishnan, State health secretary.
Asian residents in the U.K. wait a year longer for organs than those of other races