Experts call for swift declaration of brain deaths to boost organ donation rates

New Delhi: India is facing a critical shortage of organ donations, with the country’s cadaver organ donation rate remaining below one donor per million people annually. Experts emphasize the urgent need for hospitals to identify and certify brain deaths promptly, as this can significantly increase organ donation rates and save countless lives.

The Union Health Ministry has recently highlighted the importance of timely action by hospitals to facilitate the organ donation process. Experts, including Dr. Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Chief of Neurology at Fortis Hospital, stressed, “If we promptly identify and certify brain death, it allows the hospital to quickly initiate the organ donation and transplant process. This swift action is crucial, as it ensures that the organs remain viable for transplantation, thereby increasing the chances of successful transplants.”

Dr. Gupta explained, “The timely identification of brain death is critical for organ donation. As neurologists, we must be vigilant in diagnosing brain death and ensuring that the process is documented swiftly. This allows the medical team to inform the family about the possibility of organ donation, which could save multiple lives.”

Organ donation is a life-saving procedure that can dramatically reduce mortality rates in India, where the demand for organs far exceeds the supply. Many patients die waiting for organ transplants that could have saved their lives.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra recently stressed the need to enhance awareness about organ donation and improve the system to prevent organ wastage. He emphasized the responsibility of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTO), and Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTO) in this effort.

Dr. Ravi Bansal, Senior Consultant in the Department of Nephrology at PSRI Hospital in New Delhi, highlighted the profound impact of kidney transplants on patients with renal failure, noting that successful transplants significantly improve patients’ longevity and quality of life. “A kidney can be donated either by family, relatives or from a brain-dead donor, like in accident cases. Kidney donation is a noble act and does not affect the donor’s life,” Dr. Bansal stated.

The high success rate of organ transplants, particularly kidney transplants, underscores the importance of organ donation. Increasing the availability of kidneys for transplantation can reduce the demand for dialysis, easing pressure on the healthcare system and making it more sustainable in the long run.

The Health Ministry’s directive to hospitals highlights the urgent need for change, reminding states that hospitals must identify every potential brain stem death case in the ICU, as per the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act.  Hospitals are required to inquire whether potential donors have pledged to donate their organs and, if not, inform family members of the opportunity to donate before the heart stops beating.

Dr. Mrunmaya Kumar Panda, Senior Consultant in Hepatology and Gastroenterology at Jupiter Hospital in Pune, commented, “The onus lies not only on donors but also on hospitals. We need to be proactive in declaring brain deaths and initiating the organ donation process. Delays in identifying brain deaths often lead to missed opportunities for saving lives. With the right protocols in place, we can significantly increase the number of organs available for transplantation.” 

Experts urge all transplant centers and non-transplant organ retrieval centers in India to promptly declare brain deaths. This will significantly boost organ donation rates and save countless lives. Currently, even registered transplant centers are lagging in declaring brain deaths, leading to a substantial loss of potential donors. India must accelerate efforts to enforce stricter protocols and raise public awareness to create a robust organ donation ecosystem.