DMC doctor returns from transplant conference in Geneva

Express News Service

October 27, 2005

Ludhiana -- Urologist and Head of Department of Transplant unit of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh was invited to attend the International Conference of European Society of Organ Transplant held at Geneva (Switzerland) from October 14 to 19.

The World Organ Donation and Transplantation Day was observed for the first time on October 14 with the participation of World Health Organisation, Dr Aulakh added. A team of transplant patients from Hungary and England played a volleyball match and demonstrated how fit they can be after receiving transplants.

Dr Aulakh said that there were more than 89,000 organ transplants performed worldwide in 2004. "The number is very low as compared to existing needs of 1 million patients suffering from kidney failure. According to waiting lists in countries, where health systems are well organised and organ donation is publicly promoted, number of patients waiting for a transplant is at least 2,00,000," he stated.

Till now, out of 91 countries who have demonstrated the capacity to transplant organs- One per cent are under-developed countries, 46 per cent are developing countries and 53 per cent are developed countries.

In a nutshell, 80 per cent of global population, has access to only 27 percent of organ transplantation carried out globally.

Copyright © 2005 Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd.

This article posted November 16, 2005.