Now Reading: Mumbai organ shortage: 5,000 patients on waitlist, only 10% get organs
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Mumbai organ shortage: 5,000 patients on waitlist, only 10% get organs
On August 12, a 29-year-old man at Thane's Jupiter Lifeline Hospital became Mumbai's 40th deceased donor this year, donating heart, liver and kidneys. Yet nearly 5,000 patients in the city await transplants,…
The Story in Brief
On August 12, a 29-year-old man at Thane's Jupiter Lifeline Hospital became Mumbai's 40th deceased donor this year, donating heart, liver and kidneys. Yet nearly 5,000 patients in the city await transplants, with only around 10% receiving organs, according to Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre president Dr S.K. Mathur. A Hyderabad study cited by Mathur found that 90% of families who benefited from a transplant do not pledge their own organs. Mumbai currently lists nearly 4,000 kidney, 900 liver, 60 heart, 25 lung and 15 pancreas patients. Statewide, 118,913 Maharashtrians have registered pledges, as per NOTTO.
The Indian Opinion
The focus on pledges often masks deeper barriers. Maharashtra has over 118,000 pledges, yet only 40 deceased donors this year. Blaming transplant beneficiaries for not pledging ignores that conversion depends on hospital protocols, family consent and medical infrastructure. The real test will be whether Mumbai can increase deceased donors from 40 to a number that meaningfully reduces the 5,000-patient waitlist.
Source: freepressjournal.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
