Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government is contemplating the introduction of welfare schemes, including insurance protection, for organ donors. An expert committee has been formed by the Health Department to assess the annual costs associated with insurance and to determine which agency should be appointed for its management.

The proposed insurance scheme aims to cover the costs associated with the recovery and follow-up treatment needed for donors after various organ transplant surgeries. Initially, the government focused on providing specific considerations for liver donors, but it is now expanding the proposal to include insurance protection and welfare schemes for all organ donors.

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The committee is chaired by the Director of Medical Education. Executive Director of K-Sotto (Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation) will serve as the convener.

Deceased organ donations decline in Kerala

Organ donations from individuals who have suffered brain death are declining in the state. Meanwhile, the number of organ transplant surgeries from living donors has increased, according to data from K-SOTTO (Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation), which oversees organ donations in the state.

It is believed that various allegations and legal issues surrounding the confirmation of brain death are deterring many individuals from donating. Until the end of September this year, only 28 organ transplant surgeries have been conducted from brain-dead individuals in the state, compared to 62 surgeries last year and 218 in 2015.

Although a team has been assigned to confirm brain death, including two specialist doctors from a government panel and hospital doctors, along with a special protocol, no significant results have been observed.

Rising trend in number of living donors

Meanwhile, there is a rising trend in organ donations from living donors. In 2021, there were 1,053 kidney transplant surgeries; this increased to 1,332 in 2022 and 1,033 in 2023. Already this year, more than 1,000 surgeries have taken place, and over 1,000 people are registered and waiting solely for kidney transplants.

In the past two years, over 300 liver transplant surgeries have been conducted from living donors as well.