Lok Sabha Parliamentary Q & A on Organ Donation & Transplantation 

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE 

LOK SABHA 

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2449 

ANSWERED ON 25.07.2014

SHORTAGE OF HUMAN ORGANS

2449 .  B.V. Nayak

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether there is a shortage of human organs for transplantation in the country; 

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; 

(c) whether the Government has instructed/proposes to instruct the States to set up organ banks therein; 

(d) if so, the details thereof; and 

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote and simplify the procedure of donation and create general awareness to encourage people to donate human organs in the country?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN) 

(a): Yes. 

(b): The availability of organs as compared with the demand for organ transplantation is very less. The reasons for shortage of human organs for transplantation in the country are: 

i. Poor Organ Donation rate from deceased persons due to lack of awareness and attitude towards organ donation. 

ii. Lack of acceptance of brain stem death as death by many medical professionals and family members of potential donors. 

iii. Myths and Misconceptions including religious and social Issues in organ donation also contribute to poor organ donation rate. 

iv. High Burden of Organ Failure especially because of Diabetes and Hypertension resulting mainly in kidney failure. 

v. Lack of Organized systems for declaration of brain stem death by hospitals. 

vi. non- donation of organs at the time of brain stem death. 

vii. Retrieval, storage, transportation and transplantation related issues. 

(c) & (d): Health is a state subject. It is, therefore, for the States to consider setting up of human organ banks. However, under the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP), one national level Biomaterial Centre (Tissue Bank) and five (5) Regional/State level Biomaterial Centres (Tissue Banks) are proposed to be set up during the 12th Plan. The process for setting up a National level Bio-Material Centre has already been initiated at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. States of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and PGIMER, Chandigarh have also been requested to submit plans for setting up State Biomaterial Centre (Tissue Bank) 

(e): Transplantation of Human Organs Amendment Act 2011 inter alia seeks to promote organ donation and with this in view, the following has been done: 

i. Definition of Near relative has been expanded to include grandparents and grand children.

ii. Brain death certification Board has been simplified. 

iii. Inquiry could be made from family members and informing option to donate in the event of brain stem death of ICU Patient. 

iv. Provision has been made of mandatory ‘Transplant Coordinator’ for coordinating all matters relating to removal or transplantation of human organs. 

v. Information, Education and Communication activities are undertaken periodically to promote organ donation from deceased donors. For this, regional `Organ Donation Awareness workshops` have been organized in coordination with State Governments in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Puducherry, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, & Trivendrum for awareness among public on organ donation.