India accounts for low incidence of organ transplant due to lack of awareness and non compatible donors

India accounts for low incidence of organ transplant due to lack of awareness and non compatible donors, according to the Zonal Coordination Committee of Karnataka (ZCCK). The Committee which monitors the organs transplant programme in the state has noted that in the last two years only 12 cadaver donors have been able to save lives of 33 patients in the state. Many people in India die due to unavailability of the organs or lack of compatible donor within the family. There is also a serious lack of awareness to donate organs. Although one lakh people die in road accidents in the state, the organ donation is yet to take place.

However, under the new amendment of the Organ Transplantation Bill, punishment against those involved in commercial organ trade has become severe. The bill says that those involved in the trade, including the doctors who help in the swapping will be levied a fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

The amendments also entitle the living organ donors to benefits like 50 percent discount on second class rail tickets, lifelong free medical check-ups and care in the hospital where the organ donation takes place, including a customised life insurance policy of Rs 2 lakh.

India needs 2.5 lakh eyes donated every year, but the ophthalmology care centres can manage to source only 25,000 of which 30 per cent can be used. Around 30,000 liver transplants are required annually but only 400 transplants are performed.