Question : ORGAN DONATION RATE

(a) whether the organ donation in the country is low as compared to other countries of the world;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for poor organ donation rate;

(c) whether the Government proposes to set up a Biomaterial Centre for organ and tissue bank in the country;

(d) if so, the details and its objectives/ purpose along with the amount allocated for the purpose; and

(e) whether the Government has launched any awareness programme for encouraging citizen for organs donation, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) & (b): As reported by Directorate General of Health Services, the Organ Donation rates in Spain/USA/UK/Italy/France/Belgium are much higher than India. One of the main reasons for poor organ donation rate is lack of awareness and attitude for donation.

(c) & (d): The Government has already taken action for setting up of the National Bio-Material Centre (National tissue Bank) for tissue banking at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. The main thrust and objective of establishing the centre is to fill up the gap between ‘Demand’ and ‘Supply’ as well as ‘Quality Assurance’ in the availability of various tissues.

Approximately an amount of Rs. 2 crore has already been spent on the civil and electrical work of the building of National Biomaterial Centre.

(e): Yes. In order to create awareness for organ donation among the general public, 6th World and 1st Indian Organ Donation Day functions were organized on 27th and 28th November, 2010 in New Delhi. The 2nd Indian Organ Donation Day was organized at AIIMS, New Delhi on 28th November, 2011 to emphasize and spread the message of organ donation among the public.

In addition, for increasing the awareness among public for organ and tissue donation, “Organ Donation Awareness workshops” were organized in 2011-2012 in the cities of Bangalore, Hyderabad, Puducherry, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh and Thiruvananthapuram through Regional Offices of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.