2 cadaver donations in 3 days, Kolkata in a hurry to make up for lost time

Kolkata: Two deceased organ donations in three days in Kolkata revived hope for thousands of patients battling organ failure. On Saturday, the kidneys and liver of a 71-year-old deceased woman were transplanted into three patients in two different hospitals. Sources said the organ recipients are recovering well after surgery.Jharna Das of Howrah's Salkia was admitted to Apollo Multispecialty Hospital (AMH) after she suffered intracranial haemorrhage at home. Doctors at the hospital said that, even as the 71-year-old was given all possible medical care, her family was informed when they noted signs of irreversible brain stem cell death. Once apnoea tests confirmed the death, Das was declared brain dead on Saturday, and her family was consulted on whether they would donate her organs.
After consent was obtained, doctors assessed the feasibility of the deceased's organs and found that the liver and kidneys were viable for transplant. Sources said that one kidney was allocated to Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, while the other was allocated to Command Hospital. Apollo was allowed to retain the liver, and the cornea was given to Disha Eye Hospital.Despite a late start, this was the second donation of the year and came only two days after the first donation. Both deceased donors are female, and the two donations emerged from AMH."Despite a late start, two donations within three days is quite encouraging. We are trying our best to boost organ donation in the state by engaging with various stakeholders and the public," said a specialist in GI critical care and liver transplant, chairman, Bengal Organ Donation Society.Despite slow progress, the state logged 17 deceased donations in 2025, making it the state's best since the movement began in 2010 with a lone donation. The debut donation was followed by another single donation a year later, in 2012. The next donation came after a gap of four years, in 2016, with four donations.Since 2018, the state logged donations in two digits every year, except in 2020 during the height of Covid-19. Even as transplant activities were put on hold for a few months due to the pandemic, Kolkata recorded six donations.Sources said the number of patients waiting for a donor organ in the state is huge compared to the donation figure. At least 700 patients are waiting for a kidney transplant, while those for liver, heart, and lungs are approximately 200, 150, and 30, respectively."We are working hard to encourage more hospitals to make brain-dead declarations in cases of patients with this condition to increase deceased donation, which ultimately saves lives of those battling end-stage organ failure," said a state health official.