Misbah Ali

The shortage of organs is virtually a universal problem but Asia lags behind much of the rest of the world, and India lags far behind other countries even in Asia, according to the Indian Health Ministry.

Additionally, it is not that there aren’t enough organs to transplant. Nearly every person who dies naturally, or in an accident, is a potential donor. Even then, innumerable patients cannot find a donor, the ministry noted.

Every year, August 13 is observed as World Organ Donation Day to raise awareness about donating organs and encouraging people to do the same.

On the Occasion of World Organ Donations day, the Apollo Hospitals signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Liver Transplant Program with Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DMIMS, DU).

“MoU is first of a kind in Central India and will enhance the clinical coverage for patients requiring liver transplants in the regions. The MoU would benefit patients with complications due to end-stage chronic liver disease as also in rare cases of sudden failure of a previously healthy liver,” the Apollo Hospitals said.

The MOU was signed by Group Medical Director of Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Anupam Sibal, and Dr. Sandeep Shrivastava, CEO, Group of Hospitals - DMIMS, DU.

When asked about the cost of the Liver Transplant becoming a negative factor in terms of affordability for Indians, Dr. Sandeep Shrivastava told Drug Today Medical Times, “In India, a liver transplant costs Rs. 40 lakhs, but Apollo provides it in Rs. 20-25lakhs, which is 20%-25% less than the actual price. Under the financial services, many schemes are also provided. No one will be refused treatment because of the money.”

While emphasising the efforts of Apollo Hospitals in making the medical treatments affordable, a senior liver transplant surgeon at Apollo Hospitals Dr. Manish Varma told DTMT, “We are working with NGOs to help the patients and hospitals who can’t afford the treatment. No one will be denied the medical treatment because of lack of money.”

“We have always believed in availability, accessibility, and affordability,” Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Sangeeta Reddy said.

Pointing out the expense of the liver transplant, Dr. Anupam Sibal told DTMT, “Liver Transplant in US costs around Rs. 2 crores. So it is all about the expertise, not the technology. Technology is easily available but not the expertise. During the lockdown, we have hired doctors from across the globe.”

The Indian Medical Science has achieved an unaccountable advancement in the past few years, despite this an estimated 2 lakhs patients die of liver failure or liver cancer annually in India, about 10-15% of which can be saved with a timely liver transplant, according to the Indian Health Ministry.

“Today, over 30,000 liver transplants are needed every year to save the lives of patients with end-stage liver disease, but only about 1,500 are being performed. If a patient contacts the doctor at an early stage then the success rate of the liver transplant will be more than 95%, but if the patient delays it then the success rate drops by 30%,” Dr. Manish said.