Established in 2009, as Humanness Society, Humanness Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and enhancing lives through the promotion of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Our aim is to serve as a national voice, inspire commitment, and create awareness about the critical need for organ and tissue transplantation. The Humanness Foundation, established with a vision of compassion and empowerment, is committed to creating widespread awareness about organ donation in India. Our journey began with a personal connection, fueled by the desire to make a difference in the lives of transplant recipients and their families.

In India, millions of people are waiting for life-saving organ transplants. Every three minutes, another name is added to the waiting list. Unfortunately, less than one percent of potential donors are tapped for donations, leaving us with a significant donor shortage—a leading public health crisis.

 

Over 300,000 patients are currently on the waiting list for organ donations in India. These individuals are desperately hoping for a chance at life through organ transplantation.Unfortunately, the supply of organ donors has not kept up with the increasing demand. Approximately 20 individuals die daily while awaiting organ transplants due to this shortage. The situation is particularly dire when it comes to deceased organ donations. According to the Health Ministry’s data, the number of donors (including deceased donors) only grew from 6,916 in 2014 to about 16,041 in 2022. This slow growth is insufficient to meet the urgent needs of patients.

 

Factors Contributing to the Shortage.
Lack of Awareness: Many people are unaware of the importance of organ donation or the impact it can have on saving lives. Raising awareness is crucial to encouraging more individuals to become donors.

Cultural and Religious Beliefs: Cultural and religious beliefs sometimes discourage organ donation. Addressing misconceptions and promoting understanding can help overcome these barriers.

Infrastructure Challenges: India’s healthcare system faces infrastructure challenges, including inadequate facilities for organ retrieval and transplantation. Strengthening the infrastructure is essential.

Legal and Administrative Hurdles: Streamlining legal processes and administrative procedures related to organ donation can facilitate more efficient donations.

Lack of Trauma and ICU Training: Training trauma and ICU doctors to counsel patients’ families and encourage donations is vital. In India, living donors currently comprise 85% of all donors.

 

Public Awareness Campaigns: Launching nationwide campaigns to educate the public about organ donation, dispel myths, and emphasize the impact of donations on saving lives.

Collaboration with Medical Colleges and Hospitals: Engaging medical colleges, AIIMS institutions, and public sector healthcare facilities to actively promote organ donation. Even if each institution contributes just one donation annually, it would significantly improve the situation.

Removing Barriers: The Ministry of Health has taken steps such as removing the domicile rule, easing registration rules, and facilitating organ transport. However, continuous efforts are needed to address remaining barriers.

Promoting Deceased Donations: Encouraging families to consider deceased organ donation as a noble act that can transform lives. This involves sensitizing ICU doctors and trauma specialists to guide families during difficult times.

 

In summary, India urgently needs to increase its deceased organ donation rate to save more lives. By fostering awareness, improving infrastructure, and addressing challenges, we can bridge the gap between demand and supply, providing hope to those waiting for a second chance at life .

 

India currently follows an opt-in policy for organ donation, where individuals must explicitly register their consent to donate their organs. Shifting to an opt-out policy, where all individuals are presumed donors unless they explicitly refuse, could significantly increase the number of available organs for transplantation. The Humanness Foundation will play a crucial role in advocating for this policy change. This includes raising public awareness through educational campaigns and media engagement to highlight the benefits and dispel myths about organ donation. The foundation can engage with policymakers by presenting data and successful case studies from other countries, drafting comprehensive policy proposals, and forming advisory committees of experts. Building partnerships with healthcare institutions, other NGOs, and international bodies can create a united front for advocacy. Conducting research to provide empirical evidence, addressing ethical and cultural concerns through sensitive communication, and proposing clear legislation with robust regulatory oversight are also essential steps. This holistic strategy aims to increase the number of available organs for transplantation, ultimately saving more lives.

 

At Humanness, we believe that every individual waiting for an eye, organ, or tissue transplant deserves a chance at life. Our commitment is to bridge the gap between donors and recipients by raising awareness, educating the public, and encouraging people to sign up for this vital cause.