Approach:

Introduction- Mention the general scenario in India and the reasons for fewer deceased donations.

Body- Explain steps to be taken to improve the scenario.

Conclusion- Provide overarching measures connecting the right to life.

Answer:

India conducts the third-highest number of transplants in the world. Yet, of the estimated 1.5-2 lakh persons who need a kidney transplant every year, only around 8,000 get one. This is due to fewer deceased donations because of low awareness, long-held traditional beliefs, coordination issues as a short window available for donations post cardiac deaths, geographical variations in networks etc.

Steps to be taken to improve deceased donations:

• Setting up a committee to deliberate on having an opt-out system where a person is presumed to be a donor unless specified like Spain with the highest organ donation rates.
• Strengthening institutions such as The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization.
• Supporting awareness drives and efforts like ORGAN India by the Parashar foundation since 2013.
• Ensuring qualified transplant coordinators in all hospitals who help to explain and guide families through the process.
• Tackling practical problems in case of cardiac deaths, more coordination among family members and hospitals is needed.
• Dividing states into zones and having more transplant centres etc. can ensure an increase as is the case in Maharashtra.
• Good transport networks between cities and states can help as the Government is also working to improve coordination among Road, Railway and Aviation Ministries to facilitate the creation of green corridors.

Challenges in present organ transplantation sectors:

• Prevalence of Human Trafficking for Organ Removal (HTOR) in various transplant centres in India. According to global financial integrity, 10% of all organ transplants including lungs, heart and the liver are facilitated with trafficked organs.
• Coercion of poor people living below poverty by means of food/cash in India.

There is a need to ensure trust among people that their organs are actually helping others to ensure the realisation of the right to life for everyone.