Indian Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has revealed shocking data of mass wastage of donated organs. According to the shared reports, over 867 donated organs, including heart and lungs, got wasted as many times, it was not possible to transport it to a recipient and in other cases, blood matching process was not carried out on time.
Adding further to the distress, ISHLT stated that in 2015, 418 hearts and lungs got wasted and the number rose to 449, in the country, in 2016.
ISHLT said that looking at the devastating condition of system and coordination in the health sector despite computerised workflow, the time demands for a quick action in strengthening and resolving the loop holes, in order to utilise the donated organs properly.
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The process of getting an organ from a donor in another state is a cumbersome and slow process. Not limiting here, the problem become more complicated as the cold chain life of the donated organ is short. Heart and lungs can be kept for only four to five hours and require transport over air. Often the recipients’ family can’t afford such huge cost of transportation. Also, in private hospitals, a transplant surgery cost ranges from Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 30 lakhs.
ISHLT has urged Central Government to have more government hospitals where such procedures can be carried out and also have Air Force and Defence airplanes catering to needs for air-lifting the organs. This will help to utilise the organs and also save lives.
