India needs four lakh organ transplants every year: Dr Sandeep Attawar, President of the Indian Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (INSHLT)

• However fewer than 1000 operations are done due to lack of organ donors 
• Two day INSHLT National conference kicks off in Hyderabad

IndiGlobal Bureau

Around 350 medical experts with diverse specializations drawn from across the country and abroad delivered some thought-provoking perspectives during the inaugural program of the two-day ‘Indian Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation – Annual conference’, under the aegis of the Indian Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, held in Hyderabad on Saturday.

The essence of the conference was themed around the critical medical fields of heart, and lung transplantation and mechanical circulatory support with a thrust on the path-breaking advancements that have been made in the recent past. The enlightening program was of equal importance to practitioners not only from India but also from across the globe.

In his address, Dr. Sandeep Attawar, President of the Indian Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (INSHLT) said, “According to available trends, the country needs at least four lakh organ transplants annually. Unfortunately, only 0.5% percentage of the organs donated come from diseased organ donation after terminal brain death. Not much is happening on this front because organ donations are rather negligible. When the need is to do up to 60,000 heart transplants annually we are able to do a maximum of 250.

Against a lakh lung transplants we do a maximum of 200 transplants. Although the demand will always be more than the supply, including in advanced countries, there is a need for a massive increase in organ donations in the country. We can have around 20,000 organ donations every year if one goes by fatal road accidents. Many are dying from end-stage organ damage. We have to fill this demand-supply equation. There should be wide awareness, including by the fraternity and the media, about the overwhelming importance of organ donation after terminal brain deaths.”