Cadaver organ donations in India have been at an embarrassingly low level of 0.02 per million as opposed to between 5-30 per million in the western world. More appropriately called 'deceased' organ donation has been allowed in India since 1995 when the Transplantation of Human Organs Act of 1994 was passed by parliament and ratified by most state assemblies.
Since health is a subject on the concurrent list of the Indian constitution, any changes or rules under this act can be applicable only when the concerned state takes the initiative to frame these rules.
Repeated and persistent efforts by doctors, patient groups and NGOs to get states to frame rules to simplify and facilitate process of organ donation for all concerned have until now fallen on deaf ears. The state of Tamil Nadu has been the obvious exception with rules having been simplified paving the way for a spurt in donation and transplantation of hundreds of livers, kidneys as well as some heart and pancreata. Other states until recently haven't followed suit.
The above article from the Times of India, Mumbai on 22nd August is a welcome move but one can't help thinking the state has woken up from its slumber after the recent much publicised death of a prominent leader from that state. Whatever has been behind this, this effort if taken to its meaningful conclusion will benefit thousands of people with end stage organ failure waiting expectantly for organs that more often than not did not come in time to be of use.
Let us hope more states are awakened by this movement.
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