Two-thirds of the kidney donors in the National Capital are women

Data collected from hospitals across the city reveal that that two-third women in the National Capital donated their kidneys in 2017, while two-third of the recipient are men. The survey conducted by DNA further observed that the women donate their kidneys sometimes under pressure and sometimes out of love for their family members.

Data shows that 931 kidneys were donated in 2017 in the Delhi/NCR region by women, while only 447 were collected from men.

Kamla Devi, 35, is one such woman who is all set to donate her kidney to her husband, who has to undergo a renal transplant at a Delhi hospital. But when questioned in secrecy, Kamla revealed that she was being pressurised by the husband's family.

"We too have noticed the trend, but never knew that the gender divide was so high. Mostly it's because women, being emotional, come forth to donate to their loved ones, while men take a more practical approach and refrain," said Dr Vimal Bhandari, Director, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation.

In a study conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), almost 65 per cent of the renal donors are women.

As per Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, over 293 kidneys were donated in 2017 by women and only 120 by men. Of these, 240 were given to men, while women received only 90 kidneys.

"We take all the necessary steps to ensure that there is no pressure from the family and the donation is voluntary, but that is how the society works here. This is the case not just in Delhi, but across the country and when it comes to receiving, men are not coming forward," says Dr Dipankar Bhowmik, Professor of Nephrology, AIIMS.

The condition for women donors worsened in 1994, when the government passed Transplantation of Human Organ and Tissue Act', under which a near-relative ie, spouse, can donate kidneys. Earlier, only immediate family members could donate kidneys.

Doctors also revealed that while 70 per cent kidney donors are women, only less than one-third receive kidneys when needed. Men do not come forward as much as women to donate their organs to their women counterparts.

As per the data revealed, over two lakh patients in the country are in need of a kidney transplant currently. However, there is an eight-month long wait for renal transplant at the premier institute.

DATA REVEALS

• In a study conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), almost 65 per cent of the renal donors are women.
   
• As per Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, over 293 kidneys were donated in 2017 by women and only 120 by men.