It will soon become mandatory for all private and government hospitals to report brain–dead patients as the state government aims to boost the number of potential donors and increase cadaver (post–death) organ donations.

"All hospitals with 25 beds and an intensive care unit (ICU) will have to report brain–dead patients to a divisional zonal transplant coordination centre (ZTCC). A government resolution (GR) in this regard will be issued next week," state health minister Suresh Shetty told TOI on Thursday.

Maharashtra has two ZTCCs – one in Mumbai and the other at KEM Hospital here. The state government intends to set up two more centres in Nagpur and Aurangabad.

The ZTCC, a registered body with the charity commissioner, is formed by the appropriate authority through a government resolution. Its primary aim is to promote cadaver organ transplant.

"Most people are in favour of donating organs after death. However, in the absence of a reporting system, we fail to approach relatives of brain–dead patients," Shetty said.

Shetty noted that Tamil Nadu has a high number of organ transplant surgeries and said Maharashtra too would aim to improve the number of organ donations and transplants. "Organ harvesting facilities will be made available in hospitals. However, the transplants will be done only in registered centres," Shetty said.

As part of the efforts to create awareness among the youth about organ donations, Shetty has asked officials concerned to introduce a column in college admission forms where students would have to mention if they were interested in such donations.

"If they agree, the necessary noting should be made in their identity (ID) card. Similar reference should be made on Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Yojana ID card as well as on driving licences . All these possibilities are being explored," Shetty said.

The state government is also exploring the possibility of making it mandatory for driving licences to mention the driver’s consent to organ donation, he said.

Due to the dismal rate of cadaver organ donations in Maharashra, needy patients suffer long delays that sometimes even result in death. Pune city’s cadaver donation count in the last eight years stands at less than 50 kidneys and three livers.

Recently, Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, after spending over a week in hospital, died after failing to get a liver transplant in time. "Deshmukh’s case proves how vulnerable we are when we require a cadaver organ urgently," said Prasad Rajhans, chief intensivist with Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital.

"It is important to entrust hospitals and institutes with the responsibility of promoting the cause. Hospitals should ensure that braindead cases are reported and the relatives of the patients are approached for organ donation," said another doctor.

The US records one of the highest cadaver organ donations in the world. "While the count there was initially poor, the numbers increased only after the government linked medical aid with organ donation," an expert said.

• All hospitals with 25 beds and ICU must report brain–dead patients to respective divisional zonal transplant coordination centre
• State will set up organ harvesting facilities at such hospitals
• State may introduce new column in college admission forms asking students if they are interested in organ donations.
• State also exploring possibility of getting consent to be mentioned on driving licences
• Maharashtra has two ZTCCs – one each in Mumbai and Pune. Plans afoot to set up two more – in Nagpur and Aurangabad