KTR pledges organ donation in Assembly; BRS supports Telangana Transplantation Bill

Speaking during a discussion in the Assembly on the Telangana Transplantation of Human Organs (Repeal) Bill, which aims stringent regulatory norms and promotion of organ donation in the State, the BRS working president stressed on the importance of raising awareness and encouraging people to participate in organ donation.

Hyderabad: Setting an example for other legislators, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Thursday voiced his support for organ donation and pledged to donate his organs.

Speaking during a discussion in the Assembly on the Telangana Transplantation of Human Organs (Repeal) Bill, which aims stringent regulatory norms and promotion of organ donation in the State, the BRS working president stressed on the importance of raising awareness and encouraging people to participate in organ donation.

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“As MLAs, we represent two lakh to 3 lakh people and must lead by example. It is our duty to create awareness and inspire the people” Rama Rao said., suggesting to Speaker G Prasad Kumar to conduct an application signing camp in the Assembly to enable MLAs register as organ donors.

“I will be first to sign the organ donation papers,” Rama Rao said, drawing applause from across party lines.

Congress MLA from Aswaraopeta, Jare Adinarayana informed that there were 29 kidney failure patients in his constituency and that this Bill would make things easy for them. “Like BRS working president KT Rama Rao, I too will be the first person to sign the organ donation papers in my constituency,” Adinarayana announced.
BRS extends support to Transplantation Bill

Earlier, extending the party’s support to the Bill, BRS MLA T Harish Rao suggested the government to conduct funerals with State honours for the deceased, to allot Indiramma Indlu to the donor’s family, besides offering admissions into Gurukuls and also free health insurance to encourage more people towards organ donation.

About 3,724 people had applied for organ donation in the State. Earlier, only neuro surgeons or neuro physicians could declare a person as brain dead. Now, other doctors could also make the declaration and this would expedite the process of organ donation, he said.

In 2013, only 189 organ transplantations were done in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Under the BRS rule, 233 transplantations were conducted in 2014, 364 in 2015, 563 in 2016, 573 in 2017, 469 in 2018, 257 in 2019, 616 in 2020, 716 in 2021, 729 in 2022 and 725 in 2023. Telangana had emerged as the leading State in transplantations in the country, the former Minister informed.

In the past, people had to visit the US or London in the UK for organ transplantations. During the BRS rule, 609 organ transplantation surgeries were performed in Gandhi, NIMS and Osmania General Hospital. To support the poor people, the KCR government had covered 577 transplantations under Arogyasri as well, he stressed.

“Generally, it costs nearly Rs.20 lakh for transplantations but the BRS government did them for free. This apart, medicines for one year were provided to the patients for free,” Harish Rao reminded.

Congress MLA from Jukkal, T Laxmikantha Rao wanted the government to ensure private hospitals extend substantial discounts to families that come forward for organ donation of their deceased kin.