KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS IN INDIA

The government has initiated an inquiry into the revelations presented in a recent investigation by The Telegraph. The report suggested that impoverished villagers from Myanmar were being enticed into donating their kidneys to affluent patients from their country, allegedly involving Delhi's Apollo Hospital.

• India's transplantation laws delineate that organ transplants can be sourced either from a deceased person's pool of organs, donated by their relatives, or from a living individual known to the recipient.
• The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act of 1994 permits living donations, primarily from close relatives such as parents, siblings, children, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren.
• Altruistic donations from more distant relatives, in-laws, or long-time friends are allowed but subject to additional scrutiny to ensure no financial exchange is involved.
• In the case of living donations from close relatives, whether Indian or foreign, a set of documents is required, including identity verification, a family tree, documents, and pictures substantiating the donor-recipient relationship.
• Additionally, documents demonstrating the financial standing of the donor must be submitted.
• Interviews with both donors and recipients are conducted to establish the genuineness of the relationship.
• For donations from unrelated individuals, documents and photographic evidence showcasing their long-term association or friendship are necessary, along with other required documents.
• An external committee scrutinizes such cases to prevent illegal dealings.
• Engaging in activities such as offering payment for organs, advertising or negotiating organ transactions, seeking individuals to supply organs, and participating in the creation of false documents is subject to severe penalties.
• Offenders may face imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 1 crore.

While all organ trafficking is horrific, kidneys unfortunately pose a particular risk due to their high demand, affordability, and longevity outside the body. 

1. High Demand, Limited Supply: Every year, around 2 lakh Indians reach end-stage kidney failure, far exceeding the 12,000 transplants performed annually. This desperate need creates a lucrative black market for those willing to exploit desperate individuals.

2. Affordability and Accessibility: Compared to other transplants, kidney procedures cost roughly Rs 5 lakh, making them more accessible to a wider pool of potential recipients. Additionally, with over 500 authorized centres in India, opportunities to circumvent legalities and access illegal transplants have increased.

3. Extended Viability Outside the Body: Unlike other vital organs like lungs (4-6 hours) and liver (8-12 hours), kidneys can survive outside the body for 24-36 hours. This extended window allows for greater flexibility in transportation and illegal procurement within the black market.

Promoting Deceased Donations

• To address the existing supply gap in India's organ pool, a crucial strategy involves promoting deceased donations.
• Currently, only a small fraction of individuals experiencing brain deaths become organ donors, despite being optimal candidates for organ donation.
• To augment this percentage, the government has introduced an Aadhaar-linked registry of donors. This registry enables family members to be certain of the deceased individual's wish to donate their organs.
• Currently, only 16% of total transplants in the country utilize deceased organs, a figure experts believe could be significantly increased by raising awareness.

Reducing the Demand for Organ Transplants

• In tandem with efforts to boost organ availability, there's an imperative to decrease the number of individuals requiring organ transplants.
• This involves implementing preventive measures and health initiatives to address the root causes of organ failure.
• By focusing on public health awareness, education, and early intervention, the goal is to reduce the overall demand for organ transplants, contributing to a more sustainable and balanced organ transplantation ecosystem.