State plans TN model for cadaver donation in Maha

MUMBAI: Taking a leaf out of Tamil Nadu’s health programme, the state government will soon roll out a plan to boost cadaveric organ donation in Maharashtra.
From seeking audits of brain-stem death patients in hospitals to sensitizing the police, state authorities on Saturday prepared a wish list in order to increase cadaver donations. The plan was drawn up between government officials and doctors representing the zonal transplantation coordination committee (ZTCC), which oversees distribution of cadaveric organs in Mumbai, at a meeting held on Saturday.While Mumbai was the first city in India to conduct a cadaveric kidney donation in 1997, few donors have come forward in recent years.
On the other hand, Tamil Nadu has gone from being the hub of illegal kidney rackets, until a few years ago, to a model state that registers around 100 organ donations annually. Dr Pravin Shingare, acting head of the department of medical education and research , said, “Our first step will be to call up CEOs of private hospitals and ask them why they don’t send a list of brain deaths.”
The hospitals will then be given a three-month period to start reporting brain deaths or face punitive action. “We want to alter guidelines to make them more people-friendly ,’’ said ZTCC secretary general Dr Sujata Patwardhan. On Saturday, Tamil Nadu’s cadaver transplant programme coordinator Dr J Amalorpavanathan gave a presentation on the steps taken to increase cadaveric transplants.