34th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Organ Transplant held in Ahmedabad

Gandhinagar : The 34th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Organ Transplant (ISOT) was held in Ahmedabad. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Justice Shri Bhushan Gavai of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Smt. Sunita Agarwal of the Gujarat High Court, and Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel.

In his address, Supreme Court Justice Shri Bhushan Gavai highlighted the crucial role of the legal system and framework in organ donation and transplantation, offering detailed insights into the legal aspects involved. He discussed the historical evolution of organ donation laws, moral concerns, and the criminal activities surrounding the practice. The Supreme Court Justice emphasized the importance of raising awareness about these critical social issues. Additionally, he addressed gender disparities in organ donation, the practice of organ donations to foreign nationals in India, and the current state of the organ donation and transplantation field, providing valuable perspectives to attendees.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, during the inaugural session, praised those working in the field of organ donation, stating that the willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of others is a mindset deeply embedded in our culture and religious beliefs. He praised the doctors involved in organ transplantation for their dedication, recognizing the emotional difficulty in persuading families to donate organs during the painful loss of a loved one. The CM compared the doctors to divine beings, stating that just as God grants life, doctors, through organ transplants, give life to others. The CM further described organ donation as the most noble and selfless form of charity.

Shri Bhupendra Patel also stressed the importance of improving counselling systems and strategies to increase awareness of organ donation, expressing confidence that collective efforts would lead to greater success in this vital service. Commending Gujarat’s progress in organ donation, he mentioned that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had launched the cadaver transplant program in 2005 and assured the state’s continued support for this cause.

Chief Justice Smt. Sunita Agarwal of the Gujarat High Court discussed critical issues such as gender inequality in organ donation, its underlying causes, the role of women in the process, and the need for greater awareness of gender equality in this field. She emphasized the persistent gender disparity in organ donation, referencing various studies, and expressed her belief in the need for effective systems, initiatives, and awareness programs to address the situation where women are more often donors but less frequently recipients than men.

During the event, the book Renal Pathology Express was launched, along with the unveiling of the ISOT Swap Software, which facilitates matching between organ donors and recipients. People who had made significant contributions to organ donation and transplantation were also honoured at the ceremony. Gujarat High Court judges, Indian Society of Organ Transplant (ISOT) President Shri Dr Aneesh Srivastava, Secretary Shri Manish Balwani, Organizing Chairman Dr Vivek Kute, Organizing Secretary Dr Jigar Shrimali, members and numerous medical professionals from the community remained present.

Source: Information Department, Gujarat