Bengal sees spur in organ transplant thanks to Health dept

Kolkata: Constant awareness campaigns conducted by the state Health department at both the government-run and private hospitals have started yielding results as Bengal has seen an unprecedented spur in organ transplant in the last couple of months.

According to a senior official of the state Health department, as many as 14 different cases of organ transplants have taken place in the state since July this year. Calcutta Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) has performed two heart transplants in the last two months, that too at free of cost. Three other cases of heart transplants had been conducted by two private hospitals in the city during

this period.

Instances of organ transplants that have occurred in the state are essentially that of the cadaver transplant. Organs were retrieved from patients who were declared brain dead by the competent authorities and were later transported to other hospitals and transplanted on patients who were in need of such organs.

Like other states, the whole process is done through a register maintained by the Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) holding names of potential receivers who urgently

require organs.

"The whole concept of organ donation and transplantation is still in the infancy. Earlier, no organ transplant had taken place in the state. Due to constant efforts put by various government machineries, we have been able to conduct organ transplants at a regular interval in the state. Bengal has achieved significant success so far. More awareness programmes should be conducted so that relatives of a brain dead patient come forward and donate organs," a senior official of the Health department said.

When asked about why some organs were often lost after being retrieved from the bodies of brain dead patients because of no takers, the official said there are some set parameters prerequisite for transplant. The body weight of the receiver, his/her blood group and age are some important factors which come

into consideration.

Sometimes the relatives of a potential organ receiver express unwillingness to receive organ for some definite reasons, the official further added.

It may be mentioned that transplant of an organ is heavily dependent on the initiative of the individuals rather than a comprehensive system. Health department officials are hopeful that the number of transplants in the state will go up in the future. The awareness campaigns have been intensified and a concrete road map is being created. The Health department will also tie up with various Non-governmental Organisations to carry out the campaign in more effective manner.

Braja Roy, founding secretary of Ganadarpan, an NGO dealing with organ donation, agrees the scenario has much improved in the state and people are coming forward to make a pledge of

donating organs.