Delhi leads India in organ transplants with record growth in 2023

Delhi: Delhi ranks as the top state, with a total of 2,576 kidney transplants performed in 2023, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,633 and Maharashtra with 1,305 surgeries.

A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a donor is placed into a person whose kidneys are no longer functioning properly. The kidneys are vital organs that filter waste and excess fluids from the blood to produce urine. When the kidneys lose this ability, it can lead to kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

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Kidney transplant costs Rs 3-15 lakh

The cost of a kidney transplant in Delhi can vary widely depending on the hospital, the complexity of the case, and whether the procedure is performed at a private or government facility.

Private hospitals: The cost typically ranges between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 15 lakh. This includes pre-transplant evaluation, surgery, hospitalisation, and initial post operative care.

Government hospitals: The cost is generally lower, ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. However, there may be a longer waiting list for the procedure.

Notably, these costs may not include additional expenses like follow-up care, immunosuppressive medications (which are required for life), and potential complications. It’s advisable to consult specific hospitals in Delhi for a more accurate estimate tailored to the patient’s needs.

Leads India with 1,824 liver transplants

In terms of liver transplants, Delhi again leads with the highest number, totaling 1,824, according to the report.

Out of the total, 1,783 were from living donors and 41 were from deceased donors. Notably, India witnessed eight domino liver transplants in 2023, all conducted in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The city has also seen a 15.1% increase in kidney transplants this year compared to 2022, as stated in the reports. A liver transplant is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or damaged liver is replaced with a healthy liver from a donor. It is typically considered when the liver is no longer functioning properly and other medical treatments are ineffective.

Liver transplants are most commonly performed for patients with chronic liver diseases like cirrhosis, liver cancer, or acute liver failure.

Liver transplant costs Rs 10-35 lakh

The cost of a liver transplant in Delhi can vary depending on several factors, including the hospital, the complexity of the surgery, the patient’s condition, and post-surgery care.

Private hospitals: The cost typically ranges from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 35 lakh.

Government hospitals: The cost can be significantly lower, ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. These costs usually cover the surgery, hospital stay, initial post-operative care, and medication, but additional expenses for follow-up care and medications may be required.

Leads in foreign transplants

Delhi has also witnessed the highest number of foreign transplants, totaling 1,851, with 1,842 being living transplants and nine being deceased transplants.

As the national capital, Delhi is the only state that leads in all three categories of transplants in the country in 2023. A foreign transplant, in the context of organ transplantation, refers to a patient traveling to another country to receive an organ transplant.

This is typically done when the patient is unable to receive the necessary organ in their home country due to factors such as long waiting lists, lack of available organs, or restrictions on who can receive transplants.

The term “foreign transplant” can also sometimes refer to the practice of organs being sourced from a different country, though this is much less common due to legal, ethical, and logistical challenges. Foreign transplants raise several ethical, legal, and medical concerns, including issues related to organ trafficking, exploitation of donors, and the quality and safety of care received abroad.

Many countries have strict regulations governing organ transplants to prevent illegal activities and ensure that all procedures are performed ethically.

Record organs donations in India

India ranks third globally in terms of organ transplantation and second in corneal transplantation.

In 2023, the country achieved another milestone by surpassing 1,000 deceased organ donations for the first time, setting a new record for the highest number of deceased organ donations in a single year.

According to a senior health official, the total number of deceased donors has significantly increased compared to 2016. In 2016, India had 930 deceased donors, with 2,265 deceased transplants and an average of 2.435 transplants per donor. However, in 2023, the number of deceased donors rose to 1,099, with 2,935 deceased transplants, and an average of 2.671 transplants per donor.

Heart transplants: Delhi-NCR lags

Southern states are leading the way in heart transplants in India, according to recent data from the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO).

In 2023, a total of 221 heart transplants were performed nationwide, with Tamil Nadu leading with 70 transplants, followed by Karnataka with 35, Maharashtra with 33, Gujarat with 29, and Telangana with 15.

In contrast, Delhi-NCR reported only 14 heart transplants during the same period. Officials attribute the higher number of transplants in South India to a greater emphasis on harvesting organs from deceased donors.

A heart transplant involves replacing a damaged or diseased heart with a healthy heart from a donor. Unlike the liver and kidneys, which can be donated by living donors, the heart can only be donated by someone who is brain-dead and on life support, known as a deceased donor.

India’s first successful heart transplant was performed at AIIMS in 1994. Since then, the number of transplants has grown significantly, but doctors note that it still falls far short of meeting the actual demand.

Nearly 10% of heart patients in India suffer from end-stage heart failure, which may require a transplant. However, due to the limited availability of donors, only a few patients can undergo the procedure.

While private hospitals charge between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 25 lakh for a heart transplant, government hospitals offer the life-saving surgery at a much lower cost, though the waiting lists are considerably longer.

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Awareness initiatives

A senior NOTTO official highlighted the organisation’s efforts to increase awareness about organ donation in India.

“NOTTO spearheaded the ‘Angdaan Mahotsav’ campaign as a Jan Andolan to promote organ donation among citizens starting on July 1, 2023. From last year onwards, the month of July was observed as Organ Donation Month, with various activities to promote organ and tissue donation, including a national webinar, cyclothon, walkathon, organ donation pledging, and a national slogan competition through the Government of India’s digital platform, MyGov,” the official said.