KOLKATA: Number of cadaver organ donations in Bengal is set to rise from 15 in 2022 to at least 18 to 19 this year – an increment which is encouraging but could have been better, felt experts at a seminar on organ donation held at a city private hospital on Saturday. It stressed on the need for more brain death declarations to increase the number of deceased organ donations in which Bengal has fallen way behind some of the southern and western states. Organized by the Bengal Organ Donation Society (BODS), the event felicitated 18 healthcare workers who have played a part in organ donations and families of organ donors.
Titled ‘Organ donation and the way forward’, the seminar was attended by senior medics and those associated with donations. Till September this year, Bengal has seen 12 cadaver organ donations. “It has been a steady growth but not picking up at the desired pace. There is no reason why the number can’t be higher. We need more brain death identification and declarations across the city and the districts.
Secondly, awareness has to be stepped up at all levels. There is a huge need for organs which can only be met with more deceased organ donations,” said BODS president commodore VM Swamy. NGOs and social workers should be involved in creating awareness on the issue, said Fortis Hospital cardio-thoracic surgeon KM Mandana who was involved in the first heart transplant done in Bengal. The MBBS syllabus should have a greater emphasis on organ donation, felt Swamy. “The goal should be to be at par with southern states in terms of donations. Fifty years later, we may not need deceased organs since organs would be created artificially by then. But now, we need donations to save lives,” added Swamy.
Senior medic Sourabh Koley, associated with donations for several years, felt medical colleges and hospitals in the city fringes and across the districts should have organ extraction and transplantation facilities. “Unless we spread out the facilities, we can’t get more people under the ambit of donations,” Koley said. Families of organ donors Shibshankar Roy and Juthika Mukherjee were felicitated at the event held at Fortis Hospital.
Titled ‘Organ donation and the way forward’, the seminar was attended by senior medics and those associated with donations. Till September this year, Bengal has seen 12 cadaver organ donations. “It has been a steady growth but not picking up at the desired pace. There is no reason why the number can’t be higher. We need more brain death identification and declarations across the city and the districts.
Secondly, awareness has to be stepped up at all levels. There is a huge need for organs which can only be met with more deceased organ donations,” said BODS president commodore VM Swamy. NGOs and social workers should be involved in creating awareness on the issue, said Fortis Hospital cardio-thoracic surgeon KM Mandana who was involved in the first heart transplant done in Bengal. The MBBS syllabus should have a greater emphasis on organ donation, felt Swamy. “The goal should be to be at par with southern states in terms of donations. Fifty years later, we may not need deceased organs since organs would be created artificially by then. But now, we need donations to save lives,” added Swamy.
Senior medic Sourabh Koley, associated with donations for several years, felt medical colleges and hospitals in the city fringes and across the districts should have organ extraction and transplantation facilities. “Unless we spread out the facilities, we can’t get more people under the ambit of donations,” Koley said. Families of organ donors Shibshankar Roy and Juthika Mukherjee were felicitated at the event held at Fortis Hospital.
