Govt proposes to give incentives for donating organs

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Jan 30: In view of the shortage of organs for transplant, the government is planning to give incentives like free railway passes and health insurance to the family members of brain dead persons to encourage them to donate the organs.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told the Eigth Editors Conference on Social Issues here that the proposed incentives like second class railway passes and health insurance to relatives would go a long way in encouraging the relatives of the brain dead persons to give consent for organ donation which was vital for promoting legal organ transplant in the country.

Such practice was already in place in many developed countries like Spain and played a vital role in increasing availability of organs for transplant and reducing kidney rackets like the one unearthed in Gurgaon in Haryana recently.

Meanwhile, the National Organ Transplant Act would be reviewed soon and stringent punishment would be given to those indulging in sale of organs illegally. The ministry has already sought a CBI inquiry into the Gurgaon kidney scam so as to unearth the whole gamut of the scam which has inter-state and international linkages.

It would investigate where all the sales of kidneys were done and who were the people involved in such inhuman crime. The report was expected in a month's time.

He said that more ORBO centres would be launched in states so that organs could be retrieved and used for patients needing transplants.

On Bird Flu, the Minister said that till now, the infection had not spread to humans and steps were being taken to control the avian influenza pandemic. Pointing out that all neighbouring countries like Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Indonesia had reported the spread of infection, Dr Ramadoss said that intensity of the infection had reduced in West Bengal and situation would soon be brought under control.

He said states like Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Assam had been asked to take preventive measures to check the spread of bird flu there.

He said that work was going on for setting up six new AIIMS like institutes. Regarding the NRHM progress, he said that steps were being taken to create health infrastructure in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.

Meanwhile, trauma centres would be made by upgrading the existing institutions by having neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons and launching ambulance services.

UNI

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