Lack of awareness behind severe organ wastage crisis

The experts noted that even with recent directives from the Union Health Ministry to improve documentation of brain stem deaths, the cadaver organ donation rate remains alarmingly low -- less than one donor per million population per year

New Delhi: Lack of awareness, deep-rooted superstitions, and myths are behind India's severe organ wastage crisis that leads to the loss of vital organs annually, said experts on Tuesday on World Organ Donation Day.

World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on August 13 to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and to dispel myths surrounding it.

India's cadaver organ donation rate has been abysmally low and stands at less than one per million people in the country. In stark contrast, Western countries have 70-80 per cent deceased organ donation.

“India faces a severe organ wastage crisis, losing approximately 2 lakh kidneys and other vital organs annually due to a lack of awareness, deep-rooted superstitions, and myths surrounding brain death," Dr. Tanima Das Bhattacharya, Consultant - Nephrologist & Kidney Transplant, Narayana Health, Kolkata, said.

Bhattacharya added that the "loss is compounded by the failure to properly identify and certify brain deaths in hospitals, significantly reducing the country’s organ donation rates despite the availability of potential donors”.

The experts noted that even with recent directives from the Union Health Ministry to improve documentation of brain stem deaths, the cadaver organ donation rate remains alarmingly low -- less than one donor per million population per year.