Ahmedabad: The number of patients on the waiting list for transplantation of various organs, including kidneys, has shot up to 1,632. The awareness with regards to organ donation has definitely increased in Gujarat in the last one year but certainly not to the extent that the need for a waiting list becomes redundant.

According to Dr Vivek Kute of Civil hospital in Ahmedabad, who is associated with the Organ Transplant Society, said only 10% of the patients waiting for organ transplantation actually receive an organ from brain-dead people.

As per a report, only 0.86% of people in a population of 10 lakh in the country donate their organs. This number stands at 50 in countries like America or Spain.

As many as 449 organs have been transplanted in patients in the state, of which 172 are kidneys, 151 livers, 23 hearts and 3 pancreases. According to the latest report, there is a need for 50,000 livers and hearts and lungs in the same number to be transplanted in the country. Against this, mere 2,000 livers are available for transplantation, while the situation with hearts and lungs is still bleaker with only 241 hearts and 191 lungs available for transplantation.

Against the need for 1.75 lakh kidneys, only 8,000 kidneys are available. In 2020, 1,780 livers, 189 hearts and 67 lungs were transplanted in the country.

DeshGujarat