Families of Recipients Shun Organ Pledges

Hyderabad:Nearly 90 per cent of families of organ transplant recipients do not pledge their own organs for donation, despite benefiting from organ transplantation, a senior official associated with Telangana’s Jeevandan cadaver transplantation programme said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said many patients from northern states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi come to Telangana for organ transplants. However, when their families are counselled to pledge their organs for donation in the future, many of them cite religious reasons to refuse.

“When they need an organ transplant, religion is not an issue. But when they are asked to pledge their own organs, religious beliefs are often cited as the reason for refusing,” the official said.

The official suggested that the government should consider introducing a policy requiring both government and private hospitals to encourage families of transplant recipients to register as organ donors.

“Families receiving organs should not just take organs; they should also be encouraged to pledge for organ donation,” the official said.

According to the official, 25 hospitals are registered under the Jeevandan programme, but only five are actively involved in cadaver organ donation, while the remaining hospitals mainly participate in the common organ allocation pool.

The official said several smaller hospitals have started performing kidney transplants but lack the infrastructure to carry out heart, liver or other complex organ transplants.

The official also observed that patients from other southern states rarely travel to Telangana for transplants because their own organ donation programmes are well established. “Telangana has become a major destination for patients from northern states. This should be an opportunity to encourage them to pledge for organ donation as well,” the official said.

Expressing concern over the role of private hospitals, the official said some institutions were benefiting financially from transplant surgeries but needed to take greater social responsibility by promoting deceased organ donation and donor awareness.

The official also called for strengthening transplant services in the government sector by developing a dedicated centre of excellence. While there are reports that Gandhi Hospital is being considered for this role, the official said the decision should be based on a hospital’s transplant experience and performance.

The official further expressed disappointment that no hospital from Telangana reportedly received recognition at the National Organ Donation Day awards presented by the Union government this year, saying it reflected the need to strengthen the state’s organ donation programme.