Long queue for organ transplants; 2000 individuals died waiting for kidney

THRISSUR: A staggering 2,000 individuals lost their lives while waiting for a kidney transplant, despite being registered with the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (K-SOTTO) for over five years. Currently, 1,978 individuals remain on the waiting list, half of whom have been registered for over five years. The issue is the unavailability of organs through posthumous organ donation. As a result, 122 people waiting for liver transplants and 22 out of 82 people registered for heart transplants have died.

K-SOTTO has clarified that the number of kidney patients registered is only a fraction, with ten times more patients outside the registered list. Many avoid registering after seeing the lengthy waiting list and instead manage their lives through dialysis. Some undergo kidney transplants with donations from relatives or friends.

Organ trade a major blow
The widespread allegation of organ trade through hospitals has served as a major blow to organ donation. Ten years ago, Kerala was at the forefront of organ donation, but for the past five years, it has lagged behind. Many people have withdrawn from donating organs, and even the families of those who suffer brain death in accidents are often unwilling to consent to organ donation.

Kerala lags behind in willingness to donate organs after death
Kerala ranks 13th in the number of people who have expressed willingness to donate organs after death through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). So far, 3,124 people have expressed willingness. Rajasthan tops the list with 40,392, followed by Maharashtra with 31,183, and Karnataka with 25,497.

Awareness should be strengthened

"Every day, at least three people contact the K-SOTTO office for kidney transplantation. Awareness to promote organ donation needs to be strengthened. The main causes of kidney disease are lifestyle, diet, and lack of exercise," says Ajith Narangalil, the Vice Chairman of the Organ Donors Association. (Ajith is a person who donated a kidney to a 14-year-old.)

These people are waiting
Kidney patients- 1978
Women- 561
Men- 1417

Liver patients- 375
Women- 39
Men- 336
Deceased-122

Heart patients- 82
Deceased- 22