CHENNAI: In the 80s and early 90s, the south of Chennai was the hub of organ commerce, and the story of city’s kidney trade drew eyes of even the international media to Villivakkam, which was known as ‘Kidneyvakkam’. While the implementation of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994 (THOA) seemed futile in curbing the organ trade racket, a handful of good samaritans changed the face of the despicable situation. From a dark age of organ commerce to spearheading cadaver organ transplant, Chennai has come a long way, in both organ donation and transplant.

Ahead of a Madras Day talk on ‘Why Chennai is the organ transplant capital’, Dr Sunil Shroff, urologist and managing trustee, MOHAN (Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network) Foundation, shares the unique history of the city…..Readmore