BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI : India performs the second largest number of transplants in the world, next only to the US, as per data available on the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, says Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister.

The minister was speaking at the 10th Indian Organ Donation Day in New Delhi on Saturday.

Dr. Vardhan added that a huge gap still exists between those requiring transplants and the actual number of organs available for transplant from deceased donors. “India has a dismal 0.65 per million population (PMP) Organ Donation Rate and we need to improve this,” he added.

We need to create and enhance awareness about organ donation on a monumental scale, such that it becomes a Jan Andolan and people voluntarily pledge to donate their organs, he stated.

He added that public representatives and public functionaries need to become torchbearers and ambassadors of this movement to not only spread awareness, but also dispel myths and apprehensions in the communities regarding organ donation.

On the occasion, the Health Minister felicitated and recognized the noble act of organ donation of several families of donors. “You have inspired and motivated all of us through your act of strength and humanity in your saddest moments of life, and we salute all those bravehearts for being a source of life for the needy”, Dr Vardhan said as he honoured many donor families.

Urging people to come forward for organ donation, Ashwini K Choubey, Union Minister of State for Health, said that while the body is mortal, the soul is immortal. Through the selfless act of organ donation, we can continue to live through the recipients of the donated organs. He stated that organ donation is “Maha daan and maha kalyan.”