Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government is contemplating putting cap on cost of organ in private hospitals to make the transplant more affordable.
This was disclosed by the State’s Health Minister D Sudhakar at a Press conference here on Friday, ahead of the human chain to be formed on Saturday to mark the Word Organ Donation Day. “The human chain to be formed from Bengaluru’s Mekhri Circle to Freedom Park will consist of over 5000 volunteers, including students, youth and ASHA workers to express cooperation among people,” said the Minister
In addition to this, many hailing from the fields of health and medicine will stand in the shape of kidneys at Tripuravasini in morning to sensitise the people about the issue.
Citing obvious dip in organ donation due to prevalence of Covid pandemic, the Minister said there was a need of around four to five lakh kidneys for transplant among the patients. “However, the patients and hospitals are finding it tough to get the organs particularly after the pandemic. Cost of organ transplant is unreasonably high at private hospitals, which needed to be looked into seriously,” said Sudhakar.
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To hasten the process of donation, harvest, transportation and transplant of organs, an air ambulance facility is being planned by the State Government. “In Victoria Hospital’s gastroenterology unit an organ harvest facility has been created with very low expenditure under the Ayushmaan Bharat scheme,” said the Minister.
He said that CM Basavaraj Bommai will felicitate the family members of those, who donated the organs of their loved ones after being declared brain dead at an event that will be held in Vidhana Soudha. “Those who were the recipients of the organs will also share their thoughts on the occasion. CM Bommai will also take an organ donation pledge. I too along with other officials will also take a pledge along with the CM at the event,” he added.
“Generally, we call blood donation a great donation. I would like to go one step ahead and say organ donation is the superior most donation. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi also has appealed to citizens of India during one of his Mann Ki Baat addresses.
Karnataka has State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) and there is an option to take the pledge online. Over 11,000 people have already taken the pledge online. Karnataka should become a role model in this. A total of 4354 people have registered for a Kidney transplant in Karnataka. Similarly, 1141 people have registered for a liver transplant and 91 people have applied for a heart transplant. The recipient will be decided on the basis of match and further on first come first serve basis within the match, said the minister.
Sudhakar said that there were only two places for organ donation in the entire state—one at Bowring hospital and the other at NIMHANS. “The Karnataka government took measures to open one such facility at each medical college in Karnataka and currently the number has grown to 18,” he said.
The minister further added, “It is heartening to see so many come forward to pledge themselves for organ donation. Even our beloved Puneeth Rajkumar’s eye donation has helped restore vision to five people. Organs of actor Sanchari Vijay have helped save five people.”
