Nagpur: Even though the brave parents of the 18-year-old Tirth Shah, who died of brain hemorrhage in Nagpur on November 17, was ready to donate his heart and lungs, both vital organs could not be taken and transplanted due to logistics problems.
The heart is allocated for a patient at Chennai Hospital, but the recipient is not in a condition to pay air ambulance to transport organs.
A pair of lungs allocated for hospitals in Secunderabad, but were rejected by hospitals, also because of logistical problems.
Toi asks experts in the field of organ contributions about how new is a logistical problem and what a possible solution.
“Chennai and the Secunderabad Center cannot take advantage of their registered recipients because the cost of transportation is beyond their reach,” said Dr.
Vibhavari Dani, president of the Zonal Transplant Coordination Center (ZTCC), Nagpur.
ZTCC maintains a centralized waiting list for various organ recipients, and ensures fair organs.
“The current time has come to reflect on the barriers of this logistics costs, especially at the government level.
Serious rethinking is needed to reduce such costs to save the lives in need of the parts of the poor,” Dr.
Dani said.
Secretary of ZTCC and senior kidney transplant surgeon Dr.
Sanjay Kolte said the facility of the heart and lung transplant must begin in cities such as Nagpur.
“Local experts must rise to requests and prepare to allow heart and lung transplants within city limits.
Organ transportation to distant goals must also be made quite affordable and available,” he said.
Dr.
Anand Sancheti’s heart surgeon, Director of the New Era Hospital, who led in organ transplant operations in Central India, said the national level policy ambulance organ transplant must be framed.
“We have done 44 hearts and 36 kidney transplants at the new era hospital so far.
At least half of the donors have the heart in good condition, but we lose the opportunity due to logistical problems,” he said.
According to Dr.
Sancheti, Air India, immediately owned by Tata Group, can place a small plane in three or four metropolitan cities in India.
“This flight must take off only for organ harvesting and transportation activities.
The recipient will pay fuel costs and flight operations.
No need to rent expensive rented flights for them.
It will reduce large costs and make an affordable organ transplant,” added Dr Sancheti.