In Numbers: The Status Of Organ Donation In India

The NDTV-Fortis More To Give campaign focuses on spreading awareness about organ donation. Here are some numbers that convey the pressing need for more people to step up and donate their organs.

Edited By: Tania Goklany | August 22, 2017 4:22 PM | Infographics

New Delhi: Approximately 5 lakh people across the nation die each year. There is a wide gap between the number of transplants awaited, and the organs available. The depressing statistics convey the urgent need for more people to step and donate their organs; save the lives of people languishing due to organ failure.

The Number of Donors

While 36 persons per million of population donated organs in Spain in 2014, 35 donated in Croatia, 27.02 donated in the United States, and only 0.34 donated in India.

Severe lack of organs and poverty are the reasons why illegal organ trading is thriving. Organ donation should not be an example of unethical commerce; we must restore its value.

Brain Dead Donors

Brain death refers to the irreversible end of all brain activity. It occurs due to a major head injury, or bleeding in the brain due to a stroke among other reasons. Brain dead persons are kept on ventilators (artificial support) to ensure all organs remain oxygenated and healthy until they are harvested.

We need to promote deceased donation in order to meet the demand of organs, and to beat the organ black market.

Tags Brain death Organ donation Organ donors Organ recipients Organ transplantation

3 Comments

lt Col Dhiren Bahl October 10, 2016

I registered with AIIMS in 2007 as an organ donor.
I think the abysmally low number of donors is due to lack of publicity and education and can be improved dramatically primarily by guidance by religious and political leaders and celebrities themselves getting registered as donors, and also promoting it enthusiastically.

vishakha August 10, 2018

I agree with publicity stuff and educating people about the importance of organ donation but I think most of us are scared that they might end up as a prey to organ trafficking. it is not a surprise that these illegal unethical practices are still running under our nose. how is it going to be resolved?