This year has been a good year for kidney patients, with more cadaver donations happening. Welcoming the encouraging pattern, doctors say kidney patients can now hope that their wait for organs won't stretch to years.
This year has been a good year for kidney patients, with more cadaver donations happening. Welcoming the encouraging pattern, doctors say kidney patients can now hope that their wait for organs won't stretch to years.
"In past two weeks, there has been a cadaver donation almost every day. Seeing this, my patients are calling to request that now they are confident to be a part of the ZTCC waiting list," said Dr Rajesh Kumar, nephrologist at Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital in Powai. ZTCC, which stands for Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee, looks after cadaver organ transplants.
Since January, 28 end-stage kidney patients have benefitted with cadaver donations. In whole of 2014, the number stood at 71.
"It is too early to say that the waiting period for kidney which is 6-8 years will come down but seeing the trend, we are hopeful. Awareness has reached the masses and hope we continue with the trend," said Dr Jatin Kothari, nephrologist at PD Hinduja Hospital.
While dialysis just an option for kidney patients, only transplantation can offer a permanent solution. At present, close to 2,500 patients are registered with the ZTCC. The number of patients waiting is about 10 times more than those who end up receiving one. "For chronic kidney patients, who are not getting a donor, dialysis is the only option. Such patients have to undergo dialysis thrice a week. It is costly and cumbersome," said Dr Kothari.
Health experts say about four lakh people fall prey to end-stage kidney diseases every year. "While the risk of carrying the diseases is very high among Indians, unfortunately, in our country, awareness about kidney disease is very low," said Dr Bharat Shah, director, Institute of Renal Sciences, Mumbai and managing trustee of Narmada Kidney Foundation.
Dr Shah said that with diabetes and hypertension accounting for over 60% cases of chronic kidney disease, it is important that people detect and prevent kidney diseases at early stage. "We already have a huge burden of people needing kidney transplants. Awareness on cadaver donation and early detection and prevention will help balance the need for cadaver organs."
Cadaver donation
2012: 43
2013: 36
2014: 71
2015: 28
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