Hospitals need to inform about brain dead patients: Maha govt

Health Minister Suresh Shetty said cases of organ transplant surgeries is high in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra government wants to improve incidence of organ donation and transplant in the state.

It has been decided to make it mandatory for hospitals to inform the organ transplant centres through divisional transplant co-ordination committee about cases of brain dead patients.

Organ harvesting facilities will be made available in hospitals with more than 25 beds having operation theatre and ICU infrastructure.

However, the transplant surgery will be done only in registered transplant centres.

As part of efforts to create awareness among youth about organ donation, Shetty asked concerned officials to keep a separate column in college admission forms asking students if they were interested in organ donation.

"If they agree, then necessary noting should be made in their I-card. Similarly, similar reference should be made on Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi yojana I card as well as driving license," he said.

It was decided to consult the Home Department regarding the streamlining of post-mortem procedure and organ donation.