Union Ministry of Health has requested States/Union Territories to encourage people to donate dead bodies when deaths occur outside hospitals, as medical colleges across the country are running out of cadavers for academic and research purposes.
According to a letter sent by DGH Atul Goel to the Health Secretaries, the Union Government is determined to promote and enhance organ donation so as to save lives of patients with different organ failures. Most often there could be organ donation only from brain stem dead patients (before heart stops).
In some cases, it was found that organ donations could not happen in situations where cardiac deaths occurred before the person gets admitted into ICU; or death happens before completion of brain stem death certification process.
Body Donation Possible
In such circumstances and also in deaths happening at home, body donation was possible. “The donated human bodies are required for academic and research purposes, which aids in better teaching of medical professionals. We have shortage of human cadavers required for teaching in the country,” Prof. Goel said.
With this regard, State Health Secretaries were asked by him to come up with guidelines that would enable family members be encouraged and facilitated for body donation if certain conditions do not allow them to donate organs. “This will go a long way in offsetting the shortage of human cadavers in medical institutions.”
Nationwide campaign
Separately, as part of the celebration on Indian Organ Donation Day on August 3rd 2024, Health Ministry decided to observe public awareness campaign titled “Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan”.
“Strengthening healthcare systems towards enabling organ donation & transplantation has been one among the top priorities identified by Government of India”- Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra stated while explaining how noble act like organ donation gives hope and new life end-stage patients suffering from end-stage organ failures.
Donors Vs Patients Gap Is Huge
“One organ donor can save up to 8 to 9 lives. However, a huge gap exists between patients who require organ transplants and the organ donors that are available,” he said.
The objective of this campaign is to reduce the demand for organ transplantation by promoting healthy lifestyles and wellness, spread awareness about brain stem death and deceased organ donation.
Union Health Secretary emphasized that focus would also be on busting myths and misconceptions related to organ transplantation and donation.
