Chandigarh, Jan 24, 2009, Dr Avnish Jolly : Desh Bhagat Group of Institutes (DBGOI) in association with Indian Medical Association (IMA) Chandigarh State Branch and City Eye Bank of Chandigarh Cornea Centre launched a campaign of eyes and body donation on the occasion of birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose here today. DBGOI chairman and president of IMA Chandigarh, Dr Zora Singh announced to donate his body and eyes along with his family members. Hundreds of students and staff members of Desh Bhagat Group also pledged for eye donation.The campaign has been launched in the fond memory of Dr Zora Singh’s father and freedom fighter, Sardar Lal Singh Ji, an associate of Netaji Subhash Chander Bose. Addressing a press conference, Dr Zora Singh said, "Donating organs should be a family tradition and should be promoted by making society aware to donate organs after death by making a legal will before death."
Dr Ashok Sharma, Director, Chandigarh Cornea Centre said, "The total number of donor corneas procured in our country are around 20,000 per annum. It has been estimated that to eliminate corneal blindness in next few years, we need to procure between 80,000 to 100,000 good quality donor eyes per year. Thus the current National figure is grossly inadequate and lot of efforts are required to enhance eye donation. Locally in Chandigarh we are able to procure about 250 donor eyes. This is far below the required no of donor eyes. Even if we are able to procure donor eyes from 1% of total deaths we will get 1200-1500 donor eyes in Chandigarh."
In one of the surveys it has been found that the prevalence of the corneal diseases is higher in the North India compared to the rest of the country. It is surprising that donor eye procurement is less in the North Zone wher the requirement is more, compared to the West and South Zone. Figures for donor eye procurement for West Zone 43%, South Zone 38% and North Zone 13%. This is similar to the global scenario i.e. the corneal blindness is many times higher in the developing world compared to the developed world. The facilities for eye donation are primitive in the developing countries compared to the developed Nations. In addition to the greater awareness in the developed countries the adoption of presumed cosent law has helped to enhance eye donation. Recently adoption of hospital cornea retrieval programme at selected centres has increased both quantity and quality of eye donation."
Prevalence of chronic renal failure in our adult population varies from 0.785% to 1.39%. Only about 10% of these patients get proper renal replacement therapy, in the form of dialysis or renal transplant, and less than 5% of patients get renal transplant. Cadaver transplant is less than 2%. Only 35% of end stage renal failure patients get their close relatives as donors. Approximately 65-70% patients look for kidney from non-related donors.
A massive human organ black market in Punjab was also uncovered in 2003. Most of the victims were poor. The current state of affairs is not acceptable. It is also not congenial for medical tourism, which the government is trying to promote. Public awareness programmes must be started vigorously.
Desh Bhagat Group of Institutes, in association with IMA Chandigarh State Branch, would like to highlight the issue of Human Organ Transplant & the rackets thereof.
It is a stigma on the fair name of medical fraternity & it is the duty of all professional associations, especially IMA, to prevent this rot growing in the profession. Medical Council of India should make sure that registration of those involved in black marketing of human organs are cancelled. Dr A P Sanwaria, Dr A K Kaushal from IMA and Ms Tajinder Kaur, chairperson of DBGOI were also present on the occasion.