Tamil Nadu's initiative receives praise, and experts urge other states and the Indian government to follow suit.
Published Sep 23, 2023 | 3:17 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 23, 2023 | 7:23 PM
The number of brain-dead people is on a rise, but the country does not witness a corresponding increase in organ donation. (Sourced)
In a first in the country, organ donors in Tamil Nadu will be laid to rest with state honours.
Tamil Nadu’s move has been widely appreciated as a commendable step in the right direction. The government’s announcement would serve as heartfelt acknowledgment of selfless individuals and families that donate organs to save lives even in their moment of grief.
“Through the mechanism of organ donation, Tamil Nadu continues to illuminate the nation, offering a lifeline to hundreds of patients grappling with various illnesses,” Chief Minister MK Stalin said while announcing the decision on X, formerly Twitter.
“By gifting their organs, paying homage to the spirit of sacrifice, and celebrating the act of protecting lives, these donors have reshaped the government’s approach to the final stages of the organ donation process. The last rites of those who selflessly provide organs for others will now be conducted with enhanced government respect and honour,” he added.
உடல் உறுப்பு தானத்தின் மூலம் நூற்றுக்கணக்கான நோயாளிகளுக்கு வாழ்வளிக்கும் அரும்பணியில் நாட்டின் முன்னணி மாநிலமாகத் தமிழ்நாடு தொடர்ந்து விளங்கி வருகின்றது.
குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்கள் மூளைச்சாவு நிலையை அடைந்த துயரச் சூழலிலும், அவர்களின் உடல் உறுப்புகளைத் தானமாக அளித்திட முன்வரும்…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 23, 2023
Tamil Nadu’s decision to accord state honours to deceased organ donors was well appreciated both online and offline.
“The Tamil Nadu government has announced state honors for organ donors. This is an excellent step and motivation for live donors as well as kin of deceased organ donors,” Dr Arvind Canchi, renowned nephrologist and transplant physician at TrustWell Hospitals in Bengaluru, told South First.
Terming it a step that has not been made anywhere in the country, Dr Canchi recommended other state governments and the Union government to replicate it all over the country.
The New York State Gift of Life Medal of Honor recognises the lifesaving contributions of organ and tissue donors. (Wikimedia Commons)
He drew attention to New York’s Gift of Life Medal of Honor. “The New York has a medal instituted for organ donors — for live donors as well as decease. It is called the ‘Gift of Life’ honor. It motivated families as well as donors. Congratulations to the Tamil Nadu government,” he added.
Vasundhara Raghavan, a donor and the founder of Mumbai-based Kidney Warriors Foundation, felt organ donors should be honoured at every forum.
“This is a very good initiative by the Tamil Nadu government,” she told South First. “Organ donors must be honoured. Any hospital initiative or programme on kidney disease should first honour the donors,” she added.
By honoring organ donors with state commendations, the government is reinforcing the importance and value of their altruistic actions. This not only uplifts the families of the donors but also encourages others to follow suit and contribute to this noble cause.
Families who choose to donate the organs of their loved ones deserve utmost respect and gratitude. The state honours bestowed on organ donors recognise the immense sacrifice and courage exhibited by these families during the time of immense sorrow.
This act of reverence sets a powerful precedent, emphasising the vital role organ donors play in enhancing and saving the lives of those in critical need.
Raghavan felt the idea of bestowing state honours was beautiful. “As we depart, we will leave behind a powerful message that organ donation is a life-saving act we have undertaken as donors. I am also a donor, and I believe that I have given life to my son,” she said.
“The positivity of organ donation stems from the act of giving, sharing, and the love we extend to society. Even if you give ₹10 crore, it is much smaller than giving a part of your body,” Raghavan added.
Incidentally, Tamil Nadu was in August awarded the prestigious “Best Performing State Award” for its organ donation initiatives. The state’s exceptional achievements in organ donation were celebrated as Health Minister Ma Subramanian received the accolade from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).
A critical factor contributing to the success is the concerted effort made by the government to encourage and facilitate organ donation.
The state has registered 26 medical colleges equipped with organ retrieval centres, though they may not conduct transplants themselves. What has also worked for the state is the registry of brain deaths at these centres.
Medical professionals at these centres register brain deaths and “Grief Counsellors” initiate conversations with the grieving families about the possibility and significance of organ donation. Upon consent from the families, organs are harvested and sent to designated transplant hospitals.
File pic of TN health minister receieving best State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) during the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day celebration held earlier in August, 2023. (Supplied)
Currently, Tamil Nadu boasts of 13 transplant hospitals and 26 organ retrieval centres strategically positioned to enhance accessibility and streamline the process. “We now see a rise in brain death registrations and subsequent donations,” Health Minister Subramanian recently told the media.
Furthermore, the state has partnered with 120 private hospitals, effectively broadening the scope of organ transplantation. Under the chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme, transplants worth ₹20 lakh were conducted free of cost.
The government has actively formalised and regulated the organ transplantation process since 2008, mandating all medical colleges to declare brain deaths. In a significant stride, an authoritative body named TRANSTAN was established to facilitate networking between hospitals, further optimising the transplantation process.
A chronological analysis underscores the progress made in recent years. Starting with seven donations in 2008, the number soared to 160 in 2017.
Subsequently, there was a slight dip with 140 donations in 2018, followed by a further decline to 127 in 2019.
Amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, there was a notable reduction to 55 donations in 2020 and 60 in 2021. However, 2022 witnessed a resurgence as the government expanded the list of retrieval centres, resulting in an impressive 156 donations, including 51 from government hospitals.
