Lok Sabha Parliamentary Q & A on Organ Donation & Transplantation
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1496
ANSWERED ON 04.03.2011
ORGAN DONATION
1496 . Shri S. RAMASUBBU
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has formulated any plan to increase awareness in the country regarding organ donation;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether India is lagging behind in organ donation in comparison with other developing and developed countries; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the number of organ donations reported during the last three years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) & (b) Yes. In order to create awareness for organ donation among the general public, 6th World and 1st Indian Organ Donation Day functions were organized on 27th and 28th November, 2010 in New Delhi under the aegis of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
(c) Does not arise.
(d) Yes. As per the information given by Directorate General of Health Services, the Organ Donation rates in Spain/USA/UK are much higher than that in India.
(e) Health is a State Subject. Data regarding organ transplantation is not maintained centrally. However, the estimates based on published studies indicate that there is a wide gap between the demand and the availability of organs such as Kidney, Lever & Heart etc. There is an estimated requirement of more than one lakh kidneys, fifty thousand Livers and fifty thousand Hearts etc, while only about five thousand Kidneys & three hundred Livers are transplanted every year. Only about fifteen Heart transplants have been done till date in the country.