The national tally of kidney transplants is only 7,500 every year against a requirement of 2,10,000 surgeries, highlighting the need for preventive healthcare and awareness about organ donation, said Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee of MOHAN Foundation, an NGO.

The problem lies in the lack of medical attention to diabetes-induced kidney diseases, which is the reason for over 45 per cent of chronic renal ailments, said Vijay Viswanathan, Head and Chief Diabetologist, MV Hospital for Diabetes. “The national disease control programmes have clubbed together cancer, diabetes and heart strokes, thereby missing the connection between diabetes and kidney problems,” he told reporters at an event to launch an awareness programme.

Along with MOHAN, the hospital will embark on a drive to spread the word about organ donation and the measures diabetics should take to protect their kidneys. The effort will include posters and promotional events at IT and BPO firms in Chennai, schools and colleges. “We are also planning to set up a booth at the Chennai Central station,” said Viswanathan. A study conducted by MV Hospital on the costs involved in kidney-related treatment says the median cost over two years for a transplant surgery is ₹3.45 lakh, while dialysis will take it up to ₹5 lakh.

But transplants involve long waiting periods. Over 3,752 patients await kidney donation in Tamil Nadu now, but the Cadaver Transplant Programme begun by the State four years ago has managed to harvest only 850 kidneys, according to official data.

Shroff says Tamil Nadu fares better in organ harvesting. The national statistic on organs harvested from deceased persons stands at 0.26 for every million. He added that a concerted effort by the State and Central Governments, NGOs and the public can help meet the demand for kidneys in the country.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW