KOCHI: To get their lives back, 2657 people are waiting for organ donors. In the first two months of this year alone, 257 people registered for the organ transplant scheme. But no post-mortem organ donation has taken place so far this year. Until last year, 2400 people had registered in this scheme. 897 organ transplants were performed.

Post-mortem organ donation is done transparently through the government-run Mrithasanjeevani. However, misconceptions about organ transplant is a major hindrance. Relatives are reluctant to donate organs, even if their loved ones are brain dead.

Donors required for

Kidney - 2003

Liver - 589

Heart - 46

Hands - 6

Lung - 8

Other organs - 5

317 surgeries

The Mritasanjeevani scheme was started in 2012. So far 317 donors have been received. Organ donation was carried out after 21 brain deaths last year. 70 organs were transplanted. In 2018, there were only eight organ donations. 19 organ donations in 2019. 21 in 2020.

Donations

Donors - 317

Liver - 252

Kidney - 547

Heart - 61

Pancreas - 11

Small intestine - 05

Lungs - 04

Hand - 16

Trachea - 01

Total - 897