Better infrastructure needed for organ transplantation 

G Krishna Murthy, Chief Transplant Co-ordinator (CTC) of Jeevandan, body organ transplantation department of Andhra Pradesh, informed that the State government is developing infrastructure facilities in general hospitals for quick transplantation of body organs. He said time plays very crucial role in the transplantation of organs and felt infrastructure facilities should also be developed in the State.

Krishna Murthy was addressing a national symposium conducted by Mukhi media at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram on Sunday. Doctors, students and representatives of NGOs attended the event. Murthy said zonal system has been created under the Jeevandan department in AP for quick and efficient transplantation of body organs. He said 13 districts of AP divided into three zones for quick transportation of body organs and transplantation subsequently.

Giving details of Jeevandan, he said 81 families came forward to donate organs of brain dead persons and organs were collected from 59 persons so far. “Out of which 108 kidneys, 55 livers, 20 hearts were transplanted so far and the efforts of Jeevandan gave new life to more than 100 persons who were badly needed organs,” said Murthy.

Murthy said a team of four specialists doctors were authorised to declare a person brain dead and the same team would study the body after six hours and finally declare the brain dead cases. Dr Subramania Iyer of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi has said Tamilnadu and Kerala stood first and second in South India in body organs transplantation and felt that Andhra Pradesh could reach the top position with the efforts of the government by developing infrastructure facilities in hospitals.

Iyer narrated the importance of body organs and exhibited a small documentary how the hand transplantations changed the life a worker in Kerala. He said many families are coming forward for the body organ donations and observed that a large number of people in India badly need of body organs.