12 yrs on, no organ pledges from recipients' kin: Docs | Hyderabad News - The Times of India

Hyderabad: Doctors and staff of the Jeevandan organ donation programme have raised concerns over the lack of organ donation pledges in Telangana, especially from families of transplant recipients. Every year, around 7,500 to 8,000 patients undergo organ transplants in the state. However, officials revealed that in the 12-year history of the programme, not a single relative of a transplant recipient has pledged to donate organs."The problem is not with the transplantation process, but with the lack of awareness and sensitivity towards organ donation," said Dr Sree Bhushan Raju, nodal officer, Jeevandan. "When an accident victim is declared brain-dead, it often becomes very difficult to persuade the family to consent to organ donation, even though such donations can save many lives," he added. "Families must understand that the responsibility of organ donation rests with them as much as the hope of receiving a transplant for their loved ones."Officials also pointed out that several recipients come from other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. "They must understand that organ donation is a shared national responsibility, not a privilege that can be bought," added Dr Raju.According to data from the Jeevandan portal, around 27,096 people pledged to donate their organs over the years. Officials say this number is very low compared to Telangana's population of over 3 crore.'Need immediate focus'Experts also noted that many people mistakenly believe that having enough money ensures access to an organ transplant at any time, simply by going to a corporate hospital in Hyderabad."While not all pledges lead to actual donations, the majority of organ donations in Telangana come from individuals who never registered as donors during their lifetime, largely due to a lack of awareness," said a Jeevandan coordinator from a govt hospital in Hyderabad. "This highlights a serious gap that needs urgent attention." Officials added that recipients can also play a major role in promoting awareness by sharing messages about organ donation on social media platforms. They added that recipients and their families should be educated about the importance and legal aspects of organ donation, and about how many people are waiting for hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys.Dr Beerappa Nagari, director of NIMS and a member of the Jeevandan programme, said while a specific mandate for families to pledge organs cannot be imposed, a broader approach is being planned. "The number of pledges definitely needs to increase," he added. Officials are planning more outreach programmes, with the next round of initiatives scheduled to be conducted early next year through district govt hospitals.