Pune: A recent study spanning from 1995 to 2021 has shed light on a significant gender disparity in organ transplants in India, revealing that 4 out of 5 living organ donors are women, while 4 out of 5 recipients are men. The data, encompassing 36,640 transplantations, indicates that over 29,000 of these were for men, contrasting with 6,945 for women.
Experts suggest that this stark contrast is rooted in economic and financial responsibilities, societal pressures, and deeply ingrained gender preferences. Director of NOTTO, Dr. Anil Kumar, highlighted the prevalent trend, stating, “Of the total organ donations in the country, 93% were living donors. This by itself is a statement that many organ donors in the country are women donors.”
A 2021 paper published in the Experimental and Clinical Transplantation Journal delved into the gender dynamics of living organ transplantation in 2019. The study found that a staggering 80% of living organ donors were women, predominantly wives or mothers, while 80% of the recipients were men.
Mayuri Barve, an organ transplant coordinator from DY Patil Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre in Pune, shared insights from her 15 years in the field, revealing that husbands coming forward to donate to their wives is a rare occurrence. Instead, wives, mothers, and even fathers are the usual donors.
Barve explained, “Mothers and fathers are happy donors to their children. When both are unavailable, wives come forward. Often, if the daughter is unmarried, she becomes the donor.” She added that if a wife needs an organ, she is often placed on a waiting list, especially if the recipient is the family’s primary breadwinner.
The study identified socio-economic pressures on women, compelling them to take on the role of caretakers and givers in the family. As men typically serve as the primary breadwinners, they are often hesitant to undergo organ donation surgeries.
Mayuri Barve emphasized, “Women who are recipients feel guilty if their family members have to donate their organs, and they refuse to take them from their families.”
This gender disparity in living organ donation highlights the complex interplay of societal expectations, economic dynamics, and traditional gender roles. As the medical community works towards greater awareness and equity, addressing these issues becomes crucial for a more balanced approach to organ transplantation in the country.
