Pune: There is a need for more awareness about organ donation as the gap between donors and recipients is large, said doctors and transplant committee members on the occasion of World Organ Donation Day on August 13. 

As per Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC) Pune, 71 brain or stem dead donors (BSDs) were identified and reported between January 1 and July 31 in Pune division. “About 121 organs have been retrieved between January 1 and July 31 in Pune division. There were 68 kidneys, 40 livers, 9 hearts, two pairs of lungs and two pancreas which were transplanted,” said Arti Gokhale, ZTCC Coordinator for Pune division. 

“There were 62 kidneys,  41 livers, 8 hearts, one each with kidney and liver, two each of kidney and pancreas together, 44 eye and six skin transplants were done between January and July in Pune division,” added Gokhale.

Speaking about organ donation, Dr Harshil Dharaiya, Chief of Medical Services at Columbia Asia Hospitals, Pune said it is sad to learn that India is one of those nations with lowest rates of organ donation in the world.

“There are 0.5 donors per million population, which is far less compared to over 30 donors per million in western countries. Almost five lakh Indians die every year unable to get timely transplant in time due to the shortage of organs. Here is why we should come up in large numbers and step up the organ donation process,” said Dr Dharaiya.

Dr Astrid Lobo Gajiwala, director, Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO) and State Organ and. Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) western region said that the gap has gradually decreased but there is still need.“The demand from donors is different for different organs. However, with tapping more social media platforms there can be greater awareness about organ donation. At present, lot of work has been done as many family members now do not refuse to donate organs. However, to address the gap there has to be more awareness,” said Dr Gajiwala.