The Health Ministry of India is pushing for an ‘opt-out’ cornea donation system to combat rampant corneal blindness. This new plan presumes deceased hospital patients to be donors unless they opt out. Given the rising cases of corneal blindness and the significant drop in donations since COVID, the initiative hopes to enhance transplant availability across the nation.
Corneal blindness has become a significant issue in India, particularly among individuals under 50, making urgency for cornea donations essential. The Health Ministry plans to promote corneal donation by implementing an ‘opt-out’ system, presuming those who die in hospitals are donors unless stated otherwise. This approach aims to enhance cornea availability, especially as current donation rates fall short against the growing demand, evidenced by a decrease in donations post-COVID-19.
Corneal blindness, affecting 37.5% of the blind population under 50 in India, is primarily treated through transplanting healthy corneas. Presently, India operates under an opt-in donation system, leading to a limited supply relative to need, with only 65,000 donations made in 2019, which plummeted to 32,000 in subsequent years. The proposed opt-out model could fill this critical gap.
In conclusion, addressing the severe shortage of corneal donations is paramount to combating blindness in India. By shifting to an opt-out system, the Health Ministry hopes to significantly increase donation rates, ensuring those in need of transplants receive timely help. Building a national coordination network and improving cornea utilization can further enhance patient outcomes.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
