In recent years, organ transplant surgeries have been successful. Because of this, patients with organ failure are registering themselves on the waiting list in the hope of receiving an organ. Organs can be donated from brain-dead patients, those who have died of heart failure, and even in cases of natural death, tissues such as eyes, skin, bones, and heart valves can be donated. Tissues can be collected up to 10 hours after death. One donor can save the lives of eight patients or those waiting for an organ transplant. India needs nearly one lakh eye donors every year. Bone donation, in particular, is extremely important for treating accidents, non-healing fractures, congenital defects, and other bone disorders. The central government has instructed all state governments to appoint a dedicated team in hospitals performing such surgeries. Hospitals have also been instructed to record deaths on time, counsel families, and encourage organ as well as tissue donation. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), established under the Ministry of Health, will oversee all of this. This is a positive step that will bring hope to the lives of patients awaiting transplants.
