Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for highlighting the issue of organ donation during his 'Mann ki Baat' programme, Indian Medical Association (IMA) Secretary General K. K. Aggarwal on Sunday said that organ donation should be made a law in India.
"It is a welcome step and we feel that many more such innovative ideas must be spoken by him in 'Mann ki Baat' programme. Out of a demand of one lakh organ donations, only 25,000 undergo transplants out of which only 5,000 successful transplants take place. That is the statistics that the Prime Minister gave to which we agree," said Dr. Aggarwal.
"Organ donation should be made a law. As on today, for example I have to donate an organ if I pledge my organ that is not taken seriously at the time of death because the relatives have to agree. If I give my living will and in my will I have written that I pledge my organs then that should be made compulsory," he added.
"Government should also think that if anyone dies and his brain is dead and heart is living, his organs should be donated unless the relations should want. Instead of taking the consent, it should be an automatic consent unless they object," he added.
The Prime Minister earlier in the 13th edition of his 'Mann ki Baat' programme praised Tamil Nadu for their leading endeavours in organ donation while lauding the other states for their initiatives towards the cause.
"Organ donation is an important issue. The need for kidneys, heart and livers is high but less number of transplants takes place. Some states have taken a lead on organ donation and made processes simpler. Tamil Nadu has done well in this," he said, adding that students from Kerala had asked him to talk about organ donation.
Advocating strongly for organ donation, Prime Minister Modi said the government has established National Organ And Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) to promote organ transplant. He said a 24x7 helpline number 1800114770 is in service already.