‘Organ donation awareness vital to bridge demand-supply gap in J&K’

Srinagar, Aug 13: Medical experts and healthcare professionals in Jammu and Kashmir have called for sustained and comprehensive awareness campaigns to promote organ donation, saying the Union Territory continues to face a significant mismatch between the growing number of patients in need of transplants and the limited availability of donated organs.
Experts said that while advances in medical science and transplant medicine have made it possible to save and significantly improve the lives of patients suffering from organ failure, the shortage of suitable organs remains one of the biggest challenges, with the situation being particularly concerning for patients requiring kidney, liver and heart transplants. They said that deceased organ donation could play a crucial role in narrowing the gap between demand and availability, while urging people to understand the importance of organ and tissue donation and consider pledging their organs after death.
According to them, there is a very high requirement for organ donation in J&K. Deceased organ donation is crucial to bridging the gap between the demand and availability of organs and can provide a new lease of life to patients suffering from liver, heart and kidney failure, experts said.
Dr Sajad Ahmad, posted at SMHS Hospital, said a considerable number of patients suffering from chronic and end-stage diseases ultimately depend on transplantation when other treatment options become limited. He said the shortage of donated organs often forces patients to remain on waiting lists for long periods, causing considerable emotional and financial stress for patients as well as their families.
According to him, improving the organ donation rate requires not only better transplant facilities but also a substantial change in public understanding and attitudes towards donation, as misconceptions, lack of reliable information and hesitation among people continue to discourage many potential donors. “There is a need to explain the process clearly and assure people that organ donation is carried out within established medical, legal and ethical frameworks,” he added.
Dr Ishrat Jan of the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) said awareness programmes could play a major role in educating people about the importance of organ donation and the number of lives that could potentially be saved through it. She said organ donation is legally permissible and called for understanding it as an act aimed at saving human lives and serving humanity.
Healthcare professionals said the death of a loved one is an extremely difficult moment for any family, but organ donation can potentially transform such a tragedy into an opportunity to give life to others. They said the number of patients requiring transplants is substantially higher than the number of organs available, making greater public participation essential to address the shortage.
A successful transplant can provide patients with a second chance at life, improving survival as well as overall quality of life, particularly among those suffering from irreversible organ failure caused by chronic or acute diseases, the experts said.
Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, General Physician posted at Apollo Hospital and a health activist, said organ donation awareness should evolve into a sustained public movement rather than remain limited to occasional campaigns. He said that the gap between patients awaiting transplants and the availability of organs remains a serious concern and many precious lives are lost while waiting.
Dr Khan said myths and misconceptions surrounding organ donation need to be addressed through credible and continuous public education, with awareness reaching schools, colleges, hospitals, communities and religious gatherings. The doctor said he had himself taken the organ donation pledge and committed to donating his heart, kidneys and liver after his death. “Even after our life ends, we can give someone else a chance to live,” Dr Khan said, urging more people to come forward and consider taking this noble pledge.
Experts also called for regular awareness programmes in educational institutions, healthcare facilities, local communities and religious gatherings to ensure that people receive accurate information about the medical, legal and ethical dimensions of organ donation, while also stressing that improving awareness should go hand in hand with strengthening transplant infrastructure, referral systems, trained manpower and coordination between hospitals and concerned authorities.
According to doctors, one deceased donor can potentially help multiple patients depending on the organs and tissues that can be successfully donated. They urged the public to view organ donation not merely as a medical procedure but as an opportunity to give others a chance to survive and lead healthier lives.
Experts said that with stronger public awareness, greater willingness among families to consent to donation and improved institutional coordination, Jammu and Kashmir could make significant progress in increasing the availability of organs for patients awaiting life-saving transplants. (KNO)