BMC to set up common eye registry to ensure access to all patients

For the first time in the state, with the coordination of the state-run health department, the BMC-run health department is planning to set up a common eye registry on the line of Zonal Transplantation Coordination Committee (ZTCC), to get proper justice for patients who are in the waiting list to get eyes. Once the common registry is in place, all eye banks will coordinate with each other and eyes will be allotted as per the waiting list.
ZTCC looks into making cadaver organs available for patients on the waiting list. All patients who need an organ have to register with ZTCC. The state health department has given the final permission to the transplantation as per Human Organ Transplantation Act, 1994.

"We have already had two meetings on this issue and are working on this proposal since a long time. We wanted to set up a common eye registry which will co-ordinate with eye banks in the state. We have not decided the place of the registry office but have a place at Kamathipura where we have our own dedicated eye institute." Said, Dr Suhasini Nagda, Director, Medical education, BMC.

Corneal transplantation, also known as corneal grafting, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue. There are 150 eye banks in the state, almost half of which are run by private enterprises.

"This is a welcome move. I am only a chairman of this committee and have stated that there is a need of such a registry in the state. There are several people in the waiting list, but some private blood banks do not adhere to the waiting list and allot eyeballs to those who approach them," said Dr TP Lahane, Dean, Sir JJ group of hospitals.
He added, "Some people benefit, but those in the waiting list don't, because they don't have a source to reach the private bank. So, once a properly monitored registry is maintained, the process will be streamlined and patients will be given eyes fairly."