Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, Aug 8: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed the state assembly on Thursday that 26 individuals on the official kidney transplant waiting list have died over the past five years while awaiting an organ.

According to Rane’s written response, 16 persons on the waiting list were allocated kidneys as per state policy and successfully underwent transplants—14 at Goa Medical College (GMC) and two at Healthway Hospital.

Rane emphasized that there has never been any delay in organ allocation causing wastage or non-utilization. The reluctance to consent to organ donation largely stems from personal beliefs and the non-acceptance of neurological death criteria.

Currently, 78 individuals remain on Nave Jivit, the deceased donor kidney wait list maintained by the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) since 2019.

Kidney transplant facilities in Goa are available at GMC and two private hospitals, Manipal and Healthway. Over the last five years, GMC performed three living donor kidney transplants, while private hospitals conducted 22 (Healthway 18 and Manipal 4). Deceased donor kidney transplants comprised 14 at GMC and two at Healthway.

In addition, corneal transplant services are offered by ASG Eye Hospital and Healthway, which together have carried out 41 corneal transplants. However, SOTTO does not maintain a waiting list for cornea transplants.