70 dead bodies (body of brain-dead person) recorded in Gujarat Donation, the highest ever since the formation of the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) in 2019. Compared to 2020, this number was double and 10% higher than in the pre-pandemic year 2019.
The donation gave 233 patients a new lease of life as multiple organs were harvested from a single brain dead donor. In 2020, the organs removed were 110 and in 2019 169.
Ahmedabad recorded 28 out of dead body, followed by Surat 23 – the bulk of the contribution.
Dr Pranjal Modi, Convener of SOTTO Gujarat and Vice Chancellor of GUTS (Gujarat University of Transplantation Sciences) said that the unprecedentedly high number of dead bodies is an achievement for the state and a testament to the resilient nature of Gujaratis.
“Several factors contributed to the increase – mainly push from hospitals, awareness campaigns by NGOs and media and willingness of donor families to have a transparent system. Despite the pandemic, we have enabled more hospitals to network for cadaver donation and organ recovery,” he said, adding that each autopsy donation significantly reduces the reliance on living donors for organs like kidneys and actually gives a new lease of life to older heart and lung patients.
Due to better retrieval facilities, retrieval per cadaver has also increased from 2.6 in 2019 to 3.3 in 2021.
‘After the second wave, many donated family members’
Dr Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad said that the donation of 25 in a year of the hospital has been possible only due to the tireless efforts of the doctors who counseled the patients.
“It’s not a 9 to 5 job – if brain death is announced at 2 a.m., the team goes there and talks to relatives because it’s a time-sensitive operation. Similarly, we have volunteers who do it themselves.” living with organ transplantDr Joshi said.
Nilesh Mandlewala, Founder donate life In Surat, said the city donated 23 bodies in 2021. “After the second wave is over, many people have come forward and donated the organs of their loved ones. But this is not an overnight change or a success – it has taken years for hospitals to build robust systems and for the government to enforce laws on everyone’s trust. to come along,” he said.
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