INSHLT conference: Experts discuss low rate of organ transplants in India, need for awareness

Hyderabad: The Indian Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (INSHLT) is holding a two-day national conference on 3 and 4 December in the city to discuss the importance and advancements of organ transplantations.

Three hundred fifty medical experts from diverse specializations are attending the conference to discuss the issues faced during the pandemic, the need for more awareness, and the advancements that have been made in the fields of heart and lung transplantation.

The conference is being held at Novotel Convention Center, Hyderabad.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Sandeep Attawar, the president of the INSHLT, said, "India needs four lakh organ transplants every year, but less than 1,000 are being done due to a lack of organ donors."

About the difficulties faced during the Covid pandemic, Dr. Sandeep recollected the problems of the early days when life-saving double-lung transplants became commonplace. "Adding to the dilemma is that despite the best efforts of the medical community, the country has a low percentage of organ donors," he added.

Speaking further about the progress in the field, the INSHLT president said, "Three years later, I am proud to say that we, as a fraternity, have withstood and progressed with incredible grace. We've learned a lot about end-stage heart and lung illness, and we've shown greater resilience in deploying life-saving methods, as well as a larger emphasis on community well-being."

Dr. Sandeep further listed the statistics with regard to India. "Diseased organ donation following terminal brain death accounts for only 0.5% of all organ donations. While there is a need for 60,000 heart transplants annually, we can do a maximum of 250. Similarly, against the need for one lakh lung transplants, we are able to do only 200 annually."