Hyderabad: Despite 200 kidney donations per year under the Jeevandan scheme, Telangana is not able to meet the demand with 1,500 recipients still waiting. Organ donation is yet to gain acceptance in the state at the community-level.

Currently, 1,500 recipients are waiting for kidney, 500 for liver and 50 for heart, according to the Jeevandan Telangana.

Dr Swarnalatha, chief of Jeevandan Telangana, said, “Organ donation is the need of the hour. At Jeevandan, we have seen a gradual increase in donation. Presently, the donation rate is four per million and we are looking forward to increasing it. Support from the community is needed to get organs from brain dead patients.”

Despite the success of the government scheme, patients have to put up with a long waiting period. Sometimes, it stretches up to five years. The total number of patients seeking organ donation is 3,000 till August 10.

One of the main obstacles regarding organ donation is religious taboos. Dr Urmila Anandh, a senior consultant nephrologist at Yashoda Hospitals, said, “The myth that organ donation is against the religious beliefs is one of the main challenges. Awareness campaigns need to address this. Relatives of patients consult their religious leaders before taking a decision about organ donation.” This has led to wastage of many organs after the patient is declared brain dead.

The Telangana government’ scheme is rated as successful at the national-level with 375 donors since 2013. A senior nephrologist at a government hospital, on condition of anonymity, said, “The scheme has gained ground. Now it needs to be taken to the next level with more awareness campaigns at the community-level.”

According to the ministry of health and family welfare, Telangana is leading the chart, followed by Tamil Nadu at two per million.

Despite occupying the numero uno position, Telengana has a long way to go as if the large number of registered persons is any indication.

So far so good
Jeevandan scheme started in 2013
375 brain dead people have donated
1500 organs under the scheme.
Organs received
633 kidneys,
350 livers,
166 heart valves,
49 hearts,
8 lungs,
7 pancreas and 315 eyes.?