A study revealed that in India, women accounted for 78% of living organ donors, whereas their share among the organ recipients was only 19%. The research was carried out by Dr Vivek Kute, a professor at Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center - Institute of Transplantation Sciences (IKDRC-ITS) and secretary of Indian Society of Organ Transplantation (ISOT) between years 2013 and 2019.
Dr Kute presented the findings at the 28th International Congress of Transplant Society that was held from September 13 to 16. “The data from National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) for 2019 reveal that there were 12,625 total organ transplants out of which 72.4% recipients were men. Among the living organ recipients last year, 70.6% were men,” he said.
His analysis of past 20 years data revealed that the majority of the donors (75-80%) were women, whereas the majority of the recipients were men. In comparison, 60% of the living organ donors were women in the same period.
He also analysed the local data for IKDRC in Ahmedabad that revealed that out of the living donors for kidney among couples, 90% donors were females – the ratio was 78% for grandparent donors and 75% for parents. “It’s a socio-economic issue that has continued for the past several decades. If a man requires a kidney, the first choice for family is wife or mother,” said Dr Kute, adding that stringent steps are needed to improve the sex ratio.
Donor of same gender preferred
Dr Vasanthi Ramesh, director of NOTTO, said male organs should be preferred as female organs are comparatively smaller, thereby increasing the chances of mismatch. “We do not want to discourage women donors but male donors are better suited for a male patient. Barring Australia and New Zealand where the ratio is nearly 50:50, the ratio is skewed in favour of men,” she said.
Dr Mahesh Desai, managing trustee of Nadiad-based Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital, said that promotion of cadaver donations can be one of the ways to improve the gender imbalance. “Factors such as education and financial independence also play a major role,” he said.
