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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Pune ZTCC sees rise in organ donations from brain stem death cases
Pune: The last three years have shown consistent growth in both donors and transplanted organs in Pune Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee (ZTCC), said officials. Pune Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee (ZTCC) officials said last three years have shown consistent growth in both donors and transplanted organs. ((PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)) This year, in 2025, the Pune ZTCC, which includes Pune, Satara, Sangli, Nashik, Solapur, Kolhapur, Jalgaon, and Dhule districts, has reported a promising start and has had 49 brain stem death (BSD) donors and 131 organs transplanted. These include—71 kidneys, 41 livers, four hearts, nine lungs, one kidney–pancreas, one heart–lung, and one kidney–heart transplant. In 2024, between January 1 and December 31, 2024, it recorded 70 BSD donors whose organs were retrieved for transplantation. A total of 181 organs were transplanted, including 93 kidneys, 58 livers, six hearts, 14 lungs, four kidney–pancreas combinations, and one heart–lung transplant, they said. Besides, in 2023, Pune ZTCC recorded 58 donors and 158 organs transplanted. While the numbers show improvement, transplant coordinators say that many potential donations are still lost due to a lack of awareness among families, delayed consent, and medical limitations. 'Every donor can save multiple lives. The growing numbers are encouraging, but Pune still has a long way to go to meet the rising demand,' said Arati Gokhale, central coordinator, ZTCC Pune. Waiting lists at ZTCC Pune include–1,800 for kidney, 800 for liver, 56 for heart and 18 for lungs.
Hindustan Times
13-08-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
9.4k patients kept in the lurch as organ donations in state hospitals remain low
MUMBAI: For nearly two decades, private facilities have been overshadowing Maharashtra's government and BMC-run hospitals in cadaver organ donations in a gap so wide that it is costing lives, warn experts. Only a few government institutions, including Mumbai's JJ, KEM, Sion, and Nair hospitals, Pune's Sassoon Hospital, and AIIMS Nagpur, have retrieved organs over this period (Kiattisak - Since 2009, just 80 deceased donors have given 62 livers, 19 hearts, two lungs, one small bowel, and one skin donation at state-run hospitals, according to data from the Regional cum State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO-SOTTO). Only a few government institutions, including Mumbai's JJ, KEM, Sion, and Nair hospitals, Pune's Sassoon Hospital, and AIIMS Nagpur, have retrieved organs over this period. While awareness has been increasing among donors, a hesitation remains among them. However, organ donors would be more willing to donate if appropriate facilities were available, said Dr S K Mathur, a ZTCC president. In Mumbai, the KEM hospital in Parel is equipped to conduct a multi-organ cadaver transplant. Meanwhile, Sion and Nair hospitals primarily focus on cadaver kidney transplants, according to the ZTCC (Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre) Mumbai. 'The government hospitals have not established high-quality surgical and transplant centres in the vicinity, which has led to the low organ donations we observe,' said Dr Mathur. 'The hospitals have not upgraded the facilities and seem not to be interested in doing so. When a donor agrees to any form of donation, they want to understand where the organs might go. Without a functional transplant centre, it is not possible for the hospital staff to assure the donors.' Dr Mathur also added that current organ donations only meet the requirements of 10% of patients in Maharashtra, and government hospitals focusing on donations would drastically help save this. In stark contrast, private hospitals recorded 101 donors in 2022, leading to 290 organ retrievals, compared to just four donors and eight retrievals in government hospitals in the same year. The gap continued in 2023, with private hospitals reporting 138 donors and 381 organ retrievals, while government hospitals had 10 donors and 30 retrievals. In 2024, private hospitals recorded 142 donors and 416 retrievals, whereas government facilities had 30 donors and 42 retrievals. ZTCC does not allow retrieved organs to be utilised by private hospitals to avoid poaching. Yet this year, until August 12, the state has recorded 33 cadaver donations, a majority of which were from private hospitals. Even with a recent uptick in organ donations from government facilities, experts warn that the numbers remain far from adequate to meet patient needs. The waiting list for transplants in Maharashtra has swollen from 8,240 patients last year to 9,423 this year, including 7,271 in need of kidneys and 1,883 requiring livers. 'We have now formed a panel to review the methods, the rules and process of how to conduct organ donation after circulatory death. That will help the condition drastically,' said Dr Mathur. Despite regular efforts from the government and ZTCC, donation rates are still minimal. Dr Ajay Bhandarwar, dean of JJ hospital, said, 'The patient load and the family's unwillingness to donate organs often lead to a reduced number of donations in government hospitals. There is enough equipment, and a transplant coordinator is already present. However, many people who come to the hospital fail to get convinced of organ donation due to a few beliefs.' The state public health department has stepped up efforts and is carrying out an organ donation fortnight in the state from August 3 to August 15, with a range of awareness drives and outreach activities. The drives are aimed at dispelling fear and misconceptions around organ donations. The department had also issued directives to state government hospitals to promote and develop organ retrieval capabilities. 'Private hospitals have transplant coordinators and mechanisms in place for brain-stem death donations. However, many government hospitals lack that. We need to start transplant mechanisms as such in government hospitals to increase donations,' said Dr Pradnya Bendre, Professor and Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Division of Solid Organ Transplantation, Wadia Hospital. 'It is a long process to increase awareness, and it must be done regularly. Well-established transplant departments and ICUs are trained in brain stem death certification. Government hospitals need to be developed at par with corporate hospitals.'
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
5-year-old boy is among ‘lightest' to undergo kidney transplant in Mumbai
Mumbai: A five-year-old in India would typically weigh around 18 kg and stand over 3 feet 6 inches tall, but Naman Khetan from Shegaon was shorter and, like a two-year-old, weighed just over 8 kg. He is among the "lightest to undergo a kidney transplant," which was performed at BMC-run KEM Hospital, Parel. "We took him to local doctors in Shegaon because of his failure to gain weight and found out his kidneys were tiny and non-functional," said his 41-year-old father, Sanjay, a salesman who donated one of his kidneys to Naman on July 15. The family has been in KEM Hospital for "two months to the day," said his mother, Monica. When they first came to KEM Hospital last year, the doctors advised them to start Naman on dialysis. "We wanted him to become 10 kg or 11 kg before carrying out a transplant," said Dr Tukaram Jamale, head of the nephrology department. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai But as the Khetans lived in a remote area in Shegaon with few dialysis centres, the KEM team had to soon change the plan. Paediatric kidney transplants are not uncommon, but the challenge is in finding the right-sized kidney donation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Best-Paying Degrees of 2025 Are Not What You Think Best Paying Degrees | Search Ads Learn More Undo A child could only get a right-sized kidney from another child. "But getting a paediatric deceased donor is rare. If a parent is donating, then there is the issue of surgically fitting the adult kidney into the child's small abdomen," said Dr Jamale. The Khetans were called to Mumbai as soon as Sanjay confirmed he would donate. The medical teams held meetings over a month, discussing the challenges of operating on the "lightest recipient." "Our previous lightest recipient was 13 kg," said Dr Jamale. Head of KEM Hospital's urology department, Dr Sujata Parwardhan, who performed the transplant, said they were particularly concerned about the blood vessels. "We had cardiovascular surgeons with us," she said. The placement of the oversized donor kidney in the child's abdomen was closely discussed. As Naman was highly malnourished, the dose of anaesthesia and fluids had to be planned to "millimetre precision," said Dr Patwardhan. On July 15, however, most of the surgical issues were sorted out easily. The country's first kidney transplant was carried out in KEM Hospital in 1965, and we have been doing difficult cases with good results for patients since then, said KEM Hospital dean, Dr Sangeeta Ravat. Dr Bharat Shah from Gleneagles Hospital and secretary general of the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC) said that while younger recipients have been reported, Naman's 8 kg-at-5-years label makes it a challenging case. "An early transplant is best for a child as they don't tolerate dialysis well," he said. As for Naman, discharge is likely in a couple of days. "Naman couldn't join school as he was too tiny. But after six months, he will start school," said Monica. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
In rare gesture, husband donates kidney to ailing wife
Nagpur: In a heart-warming reversal of typical gender roles in organ donation, a 55-year-old husband donated a kidney to his ailing wife, giving her a new lease of life. The life-saving procedure was performed with the help of advanced robotic surgical technology at a private super speciality hospital in city. While most kidney transplants in India see wives stepping forward as donors for their husbands, this time it was Prashant Upasani who gave the gift of life to his wife, Kanchan, 52, who was battling chronic kidney disease and was on dialysis for the past six months. This donation stands out as a rare instance of a husband donating a kidney to his wife — a scenario that remains uncommon in India. While most kidney transplants in India see wives stepping forward as donors for their husbands, this time it was Prashant Upasani who gave the gift of life to his wife, Kanchan, 52, who was battling chronic kidney disease and was on dialysis for the past six months. At Super Speciality Hospital (SSH), Nagpur, out of the 90 kidney transplants conducted over the years, only two involved husbands donating to their wives. In contrast, seven cases saw wives donating to their husbands, and 40 involved mothers donating to their sons. "She was brought to the hospital in poor condition and urgently required a transplant. After evaluation, her husband Prashant was found to be a suitable donor and stepped forward without hesitation," said Dr Juned Sheikh, Principal Consultant, Urology and Kidney Transplant. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo The surgery was performed using robotic-assisted techniques, ensuring minimal blood loss, quicker recovery, and fewer complications. "Robotic surgery offers enhanced precision and is emerging as a preferred approach for donor organ retrieval," said Dr Sanjay Kolte, director of renal sciences. In another notable case at the same hospital, a 36-year-old woman donated a portion of her liver to her 40-year-old husband, who was suffering from liver disease. The liver transplant was also conducted through robotic-assisted donor hepatectomy by Dr Rajvilas Narkhede. "As the demand for organ transplants grows, such stories of courage and love serve as powerful reminders of the life-saving impact of donation," said Dr Kolte, who is also president of Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC), Nagpur. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Family fulfils deceased woman's wish, donates organs to save lives of three patients
MUMBAI: In a powerful act of compassion amidst personal tragedy, the family of Rekha Maru, a 50-year-old homemaker from Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai, chose to fulfil her long-held wish of donating her organs if her life could not be saved. Their decision brought renewed hope to three patients awaiting transplants, marking Mumbai's 26th deceased organ donation of the year, according to the Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee (ZTCC). Family fulfils deceased woman's wish, donates organs to save lives of three patients Maru, who had been managing hypertension for years, suffered a sudden spike in blood pressure and collapsed at home on June 10. She was rushed to Medicover Hospital in Navi Mumbai, where doctors diagnosed a severe brain haemorrhage. Despite undergoing two emergency surgeries, her condition remained critical. Initially, there were brief signs of stability. But on June 19, her health sharply declined—her blood pressure dropped and swelling developed in her brain. By the next day, blood flow and oxygen supply to her brain had ceased. On June 20, doctors declared her brain dead. Brain death, a medically and legally recognised condition, is the irreversible loss of all brain function, including the brainstem. It is confirmed through clinical tests that establish an unresponsive coma, absence of brainstem reflexes, and lack of spontaneous breathing. In the face of devastating news, Maru's family recalled a conversation she had with her husband years ago. 'My parents had spoken about it long ago,' said her son, Tarun Maru. 'They had decided that if ever there came a time when life couldn't be saved, they would donate their organs. When the doctors declared her brain dead, we chose to honour that decision.' With support from the hospital's transplant coordination team, her liver and both kidneys were retrieved and allocated to patients on the state's transplant waiting list. 'We are heartbroken,' said Tarun, 'but knowing that a part of her continues to live on and has helped others gives us some peace.' The organ retrieval and donation process was conducted in full accordance with the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), hospital officials confirmed.
