MOHAN (an acronym for Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network) Foundation and NATCO (National Association of Transplant Coordinators) organized its 4^th Annual Transplant Coordinators Workshop on October 8th & 9th, 2011 at Magnolia Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The workshop is the only forum in the country where Transplant Coordinators meet, interact, share challenges and success stories and get a chance to update their knowledge on deceased organ donation. Close to 50 delegates attended this workshop from across the country, representing all the major hospitals involved in transplantation.

 

Dr. R. K. Srivatsava, Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Transplant Coordinator is the key to the success of the deceased organ donation program. He said that the government has been making efforts to streamline the program across the country. Work is going on in formulating the new rules for the Transplantation of Human Organs Act Amendment, 2009 and should be ready in the next few months. He added that while there have been pockets of success in the country, being a part of the government means involving the whole country. This requires working with the imbalance that exists with respect to geographical locations, private and general hospitals and costs. He emphasized that the effort has to be continuous to make the program a success.

 

Dr. Francis Delmonico, President Elect, The Transplantation Society, who presided over the function said that Transplant Coordinators in India could become pioneers in creating an Asian Transplant Coordinators’ Organisation just like the one in Europe.

 

Dr. Samiran Nundy, Chairman Surgical Gastro and Liver Transplant, Sir Gangaram Hospital, said that the focus had to shift from live liver donation to deceased liver donation and transplantation.

 

Dr. Abid Rizvi from the Sindh Institute, Pakistan, who was the guest of honor, brought out the essence of the whole concept saying that each one of us should have a dream that no one should die for want of an organ.

 

 MOHAN Foundation truly believes that a Transplant Coordinator is the central part of the entire process of organ donation and transplantation.  It is our endeavour that we strengthen this cadre of health care professionals so that the number of deceased donor organs sees a quantum increase in the coming years.