MOHAN Foundation was invited to conduct an orientation session on organ donation at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC), Rohini, New Delhi.

RGCIRC is today counted amongst Asia’s premier exclusive cancer centre that offers the unique advantage of cutting edge technology put to use by renowned super specialists. Recently the institute had introduced liver transplantation for the patients of liver tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic tumours and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and was keen to start living as well as deceased liver transplantation.

To create awareness within the hospital the GI Oncology unit headed by Dr. Shivendra Singh, Senior Consultant & Chief, GI Oncosurgery & Liver Transplant Services took the initiative to organize orientation talks for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff on organ donation in the hospital. Dr. Sushma Bhat, Manager Operations cum Transplant Coordinator who had attended the Transplant Coordinators Training Program organised by MF in Cuttack, Orissa in the year 2014 invited MF to conduct sessions. Two sessions on two different dates were organzised. The first session was held on June 29, 2016 in the conference hall of the Radiology department, which was attended by the CEO, Medical Director, Medical Superintendent and Oncology surgeons and specialists of RGCIRC.

Dr. Muneet began the session by introducing the foundation, its objectives and activities. She then spoke on the basic concepts of organ donation and transplantation mainly focusing on the need for organs, India’s organ donation rate, brain stem death, how to diagnose, certify and who can certify, cornea donation, contraindications to organ donation and myths related to organ donation.

Many queries also came up while the session was underway. To name a few: would the quality of organs deteriorate while conducting apnoea since the patient is removed from the ventilator for 10 minutes, how to perform the apnea test, except for leukaemia, corneas could be harvested in other organ specific cancers, how is the organ distribution done within hospitals and what is the criteria, is there an organ sharing protocol in place, being a cancer specialty hospital would they get a deceased donor liver etc. An interesting discussion ensued with every query with most of the participants presenting their views and ideas.

30 doctors attended the session.