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Towards encouraging and initiating the City of Mumbai into starting such
programme, late Dr. Samuel Kounz from USA had specially flown in with 2
cadaver kidneys which were then transplanted into two patients in the city
of Mumbai. Since then it has been a long drawn out struggle for the
NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION (INDIA) in trying its aim and dream of having a
cadaver transplant programme started first at Mumbai followed by in other
states.
With the persistence and perseverance of NKFI with the Government of
Maharashtra, it was able to get initially the "Maharashtra Transplant Act,
1981" passed and thereafter a more comprehensive "The Transplantation of
Human Organs Act, 1994" was passed by the Government of India, which became
operative from "February, 1995 in the City of Mumbai and the State of
Maharashtra.
Following the enactment of law the state "Appropriate Authority" and
"State Authorisation Committee" have been formed. The "Appropriate
Authority" of the state have given registration to and approval of Brain
Death Certification Committees at the recognised hospitals for cadaver
transplant programmes.
The Foundation has now also been recognised by the Government of
Maharashtra as an N.G.O. to be actively associated with this programme.
The cadaver transplant programme has been started in the State from 27th
March, 1997. This will help patients who have no life donors to get the
gift of life. The availability of usable cadaver organs will help patients
waiting for transplant for a long time.
NKFI is now trying to make a detailed plan for organisation of cadaver
organ transplant by forming Central Co-ordinating Body - like Maharashtra
Confederation of Organ Transplantation; Zonal Co-ordinating Transplant
Centres (ZCTC) and other committees with a simplified procedures by
sorting various issues/problems with the help of State Appropriate
Authority, State Coroner (Judiciary) and State Police Authority, so that
medico-legal cases are taken care of quickly and the cadaver transplant
programme succeeds in saving the lives of those waiting for
transplantation for a long time.
Once successful in Maharashtra NKFI will reach out to other States all
over India through its Network of Affiliates/Chapters.
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