Organ transplantation centres up in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Organ transplantation scenario in Tamil Nadu will soon see state-run medical institutions play a major role with the state government deciding to involve them in saving hundreds of precious lives.

The government will also establish transplantation centres in all district GHs in order to significantly reduce the long wait list for organs. Although the state government coordinates the cadaver transplantation program, only the Government Stanley Hospital has been actively engaged in liver and kidney transplants and a majority of transplantations in the state are carried out in numerous corporate hospitals.

 "Our focus will now be one donation per day and to ensure the optimum utilisation of the organs from brain dead persons, the government would establish transplantation centres in various government hospitals in the districts," said Dr J. Radhakrishnan, health secretary.

The government, he said, is looking towards the active participation of NGOs in encouraging organ donation. It had invested Rs 858 crore on improving infrastructure in tertiary hospitals.

Many government-run institutions like the Kilpauk GH, the GH in Coimbatore, Salem, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli would be involved in transplantation. He was speaking at the launch of the annual report for 2014-15 of Cadaver Transplant programme of Tamil Nadu by the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (Transtan) here on Wednesday evening.

Launching the report, state health minister Dr C. Vijaya Bhaskar said the government was keen to ensure that no one suffered from non-availability of organs for transplant and best medical care in made available to the poorest of the poor. "This is our firm commitment. Govt. also ensures that costly immuno suppressive drugs are also made available to the patients free of cost," he said.
 Commending the Transtan and all those involved in successful organ transplantation Dr. Vijay Bhaskar said TRANSTAN was not only functioning as the administrative organisation but also as a scientific one bringing the latest knowledge to benefit the people.

He claimed that Tamil Nadu attained leadership position in health sector due to the visionary leadership of the Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. "Transtan was the first of its kind in India started under the direction of Chief Minister. Tamil Nadu stands first in cadaver transplantation. About 3,670 organs have so far been harvested from 667 donors. Even Andhra Pradesh, which is standing next to Tamil Nadu has so far harvested only 618 organs from 140 donors," he said. "Tamil Nadu was the first to conceptualise and organise the green corridor in the country," said Prof. J. Amalorpavanathan, member secretary, Transtan.