Every single step making organ transplants less burdensome and more inclusive is a welcome idea for two reasons. One, the demand for organ transplant is increasing by the day, and two, advancements in medical science have made the process less risky for both the donor and the recipient.
As per government data, a total of 15,561 organ transplants took place in India in 2022, which is a steep jump from 4,990 in 2013. Of this, the lion’s share are kidney transplants — 11,423. This is against an estimated two lakh renal failures a year, underscoring the importance of simplifying the process for it. The cases for liver, heart and pancreatic transplants show similar patterns.
It is in this background that the latest government decision to revise the norms for organ transplant becomes noteworthy. As per the new norms, people aged above 65 can also register for receiving organs from a deceased donor. This will effectively allow people of all ages who face certain death hope for an extended term of life with better quality. The government has also recommended the removal of the domicile criterion so that needy patients can register themselves in any state for receiving organs. They will be able to receive the organs as per the waiting list of the designated body. Scrapping of the registration fee which state governments collect is another recommendation.
The government and the authorities concerned must, however, take into account the fact that regulatory mechanisms in the health sector function very poorly. It is not uncommon for innocent people to be made victims of fraudulent operators who run networks making organs available with very little attention to established practices. The huge mismatch between availability and demand for organs offers them a fertile ground to thrive. The government, while making the process of lawful organ donation easy, must crack down on unlawful operations.
