Organ Donation and Gender Disparity

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has issued a new directive prioritizing women patients and relatives of deceased donors in organ allocation. This is part of a broader plan to address the gender disparity in organ transplants and to promote organ donation.

Statistics and Analysis

• According to NOTTO, from 2019 to 2023, 63.8% of all living organ donors were women, while 69.8% of recipients were men.
• In the past five years, women made 36,038 of the 56,509 living organ donations in India. However, only 17,041 donations were transplanted into women, with 39,447 going to men.

Regulatory Framework

• The Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994 governs organ donation in India, allowing donations by living and brain-stem-dead donors. An amendment in 2011 included human tissue donation.
• The Act prohibits the buying and selling of organs, with stringent penalties for violations.

Recent Advisory by NOTTO

• State governments are urged to create permanent posts for transplant coordinators in hospitals that perform organ transplantation or retrieval.
• The development of facilities for organ and tissue retrieval in trauma centers is advised, along with training for emergency responders to identify potential donors early.

Global Perspective

• The WHO estimates over 1,30,000 solid organ transplants are performed annually, meeting only about 10% of global needs.
• Countries with higher awareness and organized donor systems achieve better outcomes in organ donation.

Organ Donation in India

• Every year, over 1.8 lakh Indians develop end-stage kidney disease, but only around 12,000 kidney transplants occur. 
• Increasing organ donation rates could provide more patients with second chances at life.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Major obstacles include lack of awareness, cultural myths, and family hesitance regarding organ donation discussions.
• A single donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance many others through tissue donation like corneas and skin.
• Despite appeals for donors, the allocation of organs remains governed by established rules, ensuring fairness in the waiting list process.