News Excerpt: 

Data from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) in India between 1995 and 2021 reveal a significant gender disparity among organ recipients.

More about the news:

• NOTTO data shows a significant increase in overall transplant numbers in the country, reaching a record high in 2022. Delhi led in living donor transplants, while Tamil Nadu remained a leader in deceased donor transplants involving organs from brain-dead patients

Growing disparities: 

• 4 out of 5 organ recipients during this period were men, indicating a notable imbalance in healthcare access between genders. 
• Studies suggest that more women are willing to be organ donors.  Legal safeguards are in place to prevent forced consent for organ donation from women under Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Rules, 2008.
• The number of women undergoing transplants remains disproportionately low in India.
• According to the Director, NOTTO, there is also a concern that women in need of transplants might not be receiving adequate treatment which necessitates increased awareness on this front.
• According to a senior transplant surgeon, gender bias is among both recipients and donors. Counseling efforts have led to a shift in donations, with more men now contributing to organ donation.
• There are concerns about gender disparities in accessing transplants, emphasizing that everyone in need should receive treatment regardless of gender. There's a trend where more men tend to receive critical surgeries like transplants compared to women.

Way Forward:

While progress has been made in organ transplantation, persistent gender disparity in access to these life-saving procedures highlights the need for increased awareness, education, and advocacy to ensure equal healthcare access for all genders.