Chennai: From being a hotbed for kidney racketeers to leading the organ donation drive in the country, Tamil Nadu over the past eight years has transformed into an ambassador of the cadaver transplant programme. This month, the state recorded another high: 21 families donated organs of their braindead relatives – the highest in a month since 2008.”Last year families of 18 brain-dead people came forward to donate their kin’s organs,” said Dr J Amalorpavanathan, convenor, Tamil Nadu Cadaver Transplant Programme.

On an average, 12-15 cadaver organ donations are made in a month.Dr Amalorpavanathan was among other experts from across the country who congregated in the city on Tuesday to discuss the challenges faced by organ transplant programmes in different states.The cadaver transplant programme in Tamil Nadu was initiated in September 2008, after a kidney scam in tsunami settlements emerged. From October 2008 to May, 2016, 801 cadaver donations have been made – the highest in the country…..Readmore