MOHAN Foundation (MF) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), UK on 30^th January 2015 in Chennai. The objective is to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two organisations with the aim of increasing the organ donation rate in India and the United Kingdom (UK). The MoU was signed at the culmination of a consultative meeting for senior transplant coordinators from across the country organised by MF.

The function started with a powerful prayer invoking the blessings of the almighty by Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram, Country Director, MF. She then invited the dignitaries to light the lamp and inaugurate the function. The Chief Guest was Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu. The other dignitaries were Prof. James Neuberger, Associate Medical Director for Organ Donation and Transplantation, NHSBT, Dr. Satya Vrat Sharma, MBE, Chair, Promoting Organ Donation (POD), UK and Chair of the MoU Steering/Implementation Group, Dr. N. Sridhar, Former NHSBT Regional Director for Organ Donation, Midlands, UK and presently Senior ICU consultant, Intensive Care Unit, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, Dr. Samiran Nundy, Emeritus Consultant, Gastroenterology & Liver Transplant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi and Dr. Christopher Taylor Barry, Liver transplant surgeon and Founder bLifeNY, USA and Advisory Board Member, MF.

Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MF welcomed the dignitaries and then took the audience through the MF journey that started 18 years ago. He said that in 2013 there were 331 deceased organ donors and in 2014 there were 411 deceased donors. This represents an increase of almost 25%. He said that transplant coordinators have a pivotal role to play and that the consultative meeting gave them an opportunity to network and gain knowledge. “An inspiring example is the work of MOHAN Foundation’s transplant coordinators based in the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai. Between February 2010 and December 2014, the families of 160 brain dead patients were counselled about organ donation. 106 families said ‘yes’ – making the choice to donate the organs of their loved ones to perpetuate life rather than having the organs buried or cremated. This is a 66% consent or conversion rate, which is comparable to that in the West,” he added. Dr. Shroff said that the collaboration with NHSBT had come about because of the unflagging enthusiasm and great initiative shown by Dr. N. Sridhar.

The signatories of the MoU were Prof. James Neuberger on behalf of NHSBT and Dr. Sunil Shroff on behalf of MF in the presence of the Chief Guest Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, IAS. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Radhakrishnan said that if he could credit one NGO for pushing deceased donation to the forefront it would be MOHAN Foundation, along with the government and the private sector. He spoke about setting up a Cadaver Transplant Authority, which would allow quick decision making. He added that knowledge and skill sharing through the MoU would help in establishing protocols in district level hospitals.

Dr. Sridhar shared a touching story of a little girl in a fishing village who saw thousands of starfish cast aside on the seashore by the tide. As she was throwing them back into the sea one by one, a village elder said that what she was doing was pointless and meaningless. She defiantly picked up another starfish and threw it back into the sea saying, “It made a difference to that one.” Dr. Sridhar said that everyone at the function was a “starfish thrower” since they had changed lives, transformed people and challenged pre-existing norms.

Dr. Satya Sharma said that the MoU would help in sharing good practices. From the UK end, there would be sharing of guidelines, procedures and training. The Indian side could help through roping in film and cricketing personalities since they have a strong influence on the British Asian community – both first and second generation. He said that the Implementation group would focus on short, medium and long-term achievements over a period of five years.

Prof. Neuberger expressed optimism that sharing knowledge and experience on the different aspects of organ donation and transplantation would have a positive impact, especially on minority and hard-to-reach groups. It would be a give and gain approach. He added that deceased organ donation required government support, a robust ethical and legal framework, participation of clinicians, and public confidence. He ended by saying, “We can all become starfish throwers and we can make quite a wave!”

One of the key persons responsible for the success of the deceased organ donation programme in Tamil Nadu, Dr. J. Amalorpavanathan, Convenor, Cadaver Transplant Programme, Government of Tamil Nadu was felicitated by Prof. Neuberger. The 42^nd issue of the Indian Transplant Newsletter (ITN) was released by Dr. Nagesh, Liver Transplant surgeon, PMSSY, Bengaluru.

The MoU will be reaffirmed in UK on the 26^th of February 2015 in London at the House of Lords. The MoU launch will be led by Baroness Ilora Finlay, a distinguished physician and currently President of the British Medical Association.