The Hindu : Transplant Registry to be set up in NIMS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 03, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Transplant Registry to be set up in NIMS

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Feb. 2. A Transplant Registry to record data regarding all organ transplantation in the State is being established at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).

Professor of Anaesthesia in NIMS, Manimala Rao, and Professor of Nephrology, Gandhi Hospital, Pradeep Deshpande, will serve as coordinators of the Registry, which is primarily aimed at development of the cadaver transplant programme. A decision to this effect was taken by the Health Minister, K. Siva Prasada Rao, at a recent workshop on cadaver transplantation at which the Director of Medical Education, R. S. Rama Devi, and others were present.

The main function of this first-ever registry in the State is to maintain a record of transplants done in hospitals throughout the State and understand their requirement of donors. Initially, it will focus on kidney transplants as 1 lakh kidney failure patients are added every year of whom less than 5,000 undergo dialysis and even fewer transplant surgery. Talking to The Hindu today, Dr. Deshpande said the need for a registry was felt as there was wastage of organs of persons killed in road accidents. Although there is a law permitting harvesting of organs from unclaimed bodies of road mishap victims, there is no network linking the recipient to the donor or about the number of hospitals performing transplant surgeries.

He said the Government is being requested to amend the A. P. Human Organ Transplantation Act to notify neurophysicians and neurosurgeons who would certify brain death in case of road accident victims whose organs could be used with the consent of their kin.

Another suggestion that came up at the workshop was the inclusion of a chapter in the curriculum of Intermediate course highlighting the importance of organ donation not only to help needy patients but also to prevent exploitation of donors as happened in Punjab recently.

Dr. Deshpande emphasised the need for promoting the concept of donor cards wherein every person who gives consent to donate his organs would carry a card with him. In the event of death, his organs could be used for patients needing kidney, liver, pancreas or even heart transplant. Even in such cases, the consent of parents or spouse was required after certification of brain death, he added.

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