Organ donations may not remain just a family affair for much longer

livemint.com:

There may be relief at hand for those in the long-winded queue for organ transplants, with the Union government planning to open up organ exchange between unrelated individuals. Currently, most organ donations happen within families; however, two blood groups often do not match, and the patient has to wait indefinitely for availability. Now, the health ministry is planning to allow one family to exchange with another if there is a match.

Plans are also afoot to allow health insurance for donors, fix legal loopholes and facilitate organ harvesting from the deceased, a government official aware of the plans said. The move assumes significance given that as per health ministry data, India conducts only 6,000 kidney transplants every year against a requirement of about 200,000. Heart transplant rates are even worse -- about 10 to 15 transplants every year, even as 50,000 persons die of heart failures.

Similarly, an estimated 200,000 Indians die of liver failure or liver cancer annually, about 10-15% of which can be saved with a timely transplant. The health ministry has kicked off virtual brainstorming sessions with subject experts who will present their findings during the so-called Chintan Shivar, the official cited above said on condition of anonymity. Non-government organizations, state government officials, transplant surgeons and legal experts are among those attending the 10 sessions, the official said.

“We are also in discussions with the insurance regulator to make provision for health insurance for organ donors. Right now, these insurance companies do not offer health insurance to such individuals," the official added. Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered till press time.