Karnataka to launch South India’s first govt-run organ retrieval centre at BMCRI

Karnataka is set to launch South India’s first government-run organ retrieval center at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) in Bengaluru. This initiative aims to address the rising demand for organ transplants and streamline the donation process by facilitating organ harvesting from brain-dead patients.

Also read: Bengaluru leads in organ donations, but demand still outstrips supply

In 2022, Karnataka recorded 151 cadaveric organ donations, making it the second-highest in the country after Telangana. Despite this progress, the demand for organ transplants far exceeds availability. As of mid-2024, nearly 5,950 patients were waiting for kidney transplants and around 2,199 for liver transplants in the state.

To bridge this gap, the government plans to set up additional organ retrieval centers in medical colleges, starting with four institutions. This expansion will improve accessibility to organ donation and transplantation services, making the process more efficient. Additionally, authorities are collaborating with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), given its significant number of brain-dead cases, to further enhance organ retrieval efforts.

Karnataka is also developing a structured organ donation policy inspired by Tamil Nadu’s successful model. As part of this initiative, organ donors will be honored with state-recognized last rites to acknowledge their contributions.

These steps aim to enhance organ donation awareness, improve transplant infrastructure, and ultimately save more lives through timely and systematic organ retrieval and transplantation services across the state.