Bhaktapur, May 17

Health Minister Gagan Thapa said every individual should be made aware of the possibility of deceased donor organ transplant as organ donation after death could save thousands of lives.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Human Organ Transplant Center to inform about the success of deceased donor kidney transplant into two patients for the first time, he said the government would provide financial and technical support to hospitals providing organ transplant services.

“Heath services can be made more accessible to the people. For this, every citizen should support the government,” Minister Thapa said, adding that Human Organ Transplant Centre, Bhaktapur should try to generate human resources by developing an academic institution and curriculum.

Ranju Jha, chair of Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Welfare Committee of the Parliament, said formulation and implementation of the law on organ transplant had been possible due to the joint efforts of all. “We have moved ahead in terms of our laws. Now all we need is to make people aware of the importance of organ donation.”

Speaking at the same programme, Dr Pukar Chandra Shrestha, executive director of HOTC, Bhaktapur, said eight organs could be extracted from a brain dead person. “So, if people are willing to donate their organs after death, we can save many lives,” he added.

There are no live donors for heart and lungs. Deceased donor organ transplant will also check organ trafficking . “It is necessary to make people aware of organ donation.”