Pune: Sassoon Hospital Reports Only 16 Organ Donations in 8 Years from Braindead Patients

Pune, 9th July 2024: In Pune, the rate of death at Sassoon General Hospital is higher compared to private hospitals, while the rate of organ donation remains low. Over the past 8 years, only 16 brain-dead patients have donated their organs. There is a pressing need to increase the number of counsellors to persuade the deceased’s relatives for organ donation.

Sassoon Hospital sees thousands of patients daily seeking treatment. Given the higher admission of critically ill patients, the mortality rate is also higher. However, due to factors such as the emotional distress of grieving families, medical complexities like hepatitis diagnoses, blood clots in serious cases, and instances where patients are unidentified or have no next of kin, the number of organ donations from brain-dead patients remains significantly low.

According to sources at Sassoon Hospital, between 2016 and 2024, 27 brain-dead patients were registered for organ donation, averaging just 4 per year. Out of these, organs from 16 deceased patients were successfully donated, totalling 67 organs. This includes 25 kidneys, 24 corneas, 12 livers, and 6 hearts, many of which were sent outside for transplantation.

To date, Sassoon Hospital has conducted 28 kidney and 4 liver transplant surgeries. Of these, 14 kidney and 4 liver transplants were performed using organs donated by brain-dead patients, while the remaining were donated by relatives to save their loved ones. Notably, the cost of kidney transplantation at private hospitals ranges from Rs 6 to Rs 10 lakhs, and liver transplantation costs Rs 20 to Rs 30 lakhs. At Sassoon Hospital, these costs are significantly lower, less than one-fourth of private hospital rates. However, despite lower costs, Sassoon faces a substantial waiting list, with 75 patients awaiting kidney transplants and 13 awaiting liver transplants.