Chennai: “There is a wide gap in the requirement and availability of organs in the country. Over one lakh people die of liver diseases in the country with only 1,000 people getting a liver transplant. Over 2.20 lakh people are awaiting kidney transplants with only 15,000 people able to get a kidney transplant,” said Apollo Hospitals joint managing director Sangita Reddy.
In a bid to create awareness, Apollo Hospitals Group signed an MoU with Indian Medical Association (IMA) – Women Doctors’ Wing to drive organ donation across the country.
A press release said, “The demand for organs outstrips supply in almost every country of the world, and for patients with organ failure, the wait for an organ can be measured in years. India’s organ donation rate is one of the lowest in the world with only 0.8 per 10 lakh people opting to donate their organs.”
IMA Women Doctors’ Wing national chairperson Dr Mona Desai said, “We believe that doctors can play a bigger and key role in educating the general public about benefits of organ donation as also combating the misconceptions about it. There is a long list of patients for organ transplants and our priority would be to spread awareness about organ donation.”