If we go by the stats, 150,000 people in India are looking forward to receive a kidney transplant. However, only 3000 among these would receive one.
This goes to show that only 1 in 30 people who need a kidney transplant receive one, and over 90% die in want of a kidney transplant.
Let’s go by the world stats:
Cadaver organ donation is the donation from brain dead patients. The rate of Cadaver organ donation is the highest for spain.
In spain, 33 in a million brain dead patients grant an organ donation. In India, the Cadaver organ donation rate is much less. This is around 0.05 per million, and this goes to imply that In India, we receive around only 50 cadaver donations per year.
If we go by the stats per country,
- Per every million people, Spain has 35 organ donors
- Britain has 27
- US has 26
- Canada has 14
- Australia has 11
- India 0.16 organ donors for every million of people
Let’s take a look at organs and tissues which can be donated:
Organs that could be donated after death are the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and small intestines. Similarly, the tissues that could be donated after death include corneas, skin, veins, heart valves, tendons, ligaments and bones. Among these, cornea is the tissue which is transplanted most often.
It is also possible for an individual to donate organs while he is alive. One could donate a kidney, a part of the liver, lung, intestine, blood or bone marrow.
The following is the list of organs which could be transplanted or donated.
Heart: A heart transplant is required for those suffering from a heart failure and also babies born with a heart problem.
Liver: The liver secretes bile and is essential for formation of certain blood proteins. This helps in metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Cirrhosis and liver cancer are some of the disorders which lead to liver failure. A liver transplant is done to rectify these situations.
Kidneys: The pair of kidneys which we have in our bodies maintains electrolyte balance and regulates the acid base concentrations. These cleanse the blood of metabolic waste. If one is at an end stage of a kidney disorder, he may have to go for a kidney transplant.
Lungs: Lungs remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream and provides it with a fresh supply of oxygen. One may have to go for lung transplant of one is suffering from a severe lung disorder.
Pancreas: The pancreas is an irregularly shaped organ and lies behind the stomach. This helps in digestion of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. If one is afflicted by type 1 diabetes, he may have to go for a pancreas transplant.