Over 5,600 awaiting organs at PGIMER Chandigarh, myths major barrier in donation

Amid scarcity of donors, as many as 5,610 patients have been awaiting organs at PGIMER, Chandigarh, and the queue’s only getting longer. Despite the institute’s dedicated efforts, the waiting list for organs at PGIMER remains lengthy, leaving patients suffering for years and many even pass away awaiting transplants. Organ transplantation is recognised as a viable treatment option for a range of end-stage diseases, such as heart failure, terminal lung illnesses, kidney failure, liver failure, diabetes, corneal blindness, heart valvular disease and severe burns. According to health experts, kidney rackets, such as that exposed at a Dera Bassi hospital recently, also erode people’s faith in the organ donation process, impacting donors’ willingness. “Last year, PGIMER recorded 41 deceased donations that gave second lease of life to 110 organ failure patients and restored the sight of 64 corneal blind patients, thereby, impacting 174 lives and kindling hope for thousands of waiting recipients,” said Dr Vipin Koushal, nodal officer, Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, PGIMER.