Gender Imbalance in Organ Transplants

Organ transplantation decisions are being scrutinized for gender-based disparities. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has issued an advisory to address this issue.

Key Statistics

• Women accounted for 63% of living donor transplants in 2023.
• However, women comprised:
  • 24% of heart transplant beneficiaries
  • 47% of lung transplant beneficiaries
  • 37% of kidney transplant beneficiaries
  • 30% of liver transplant beneficiaries
  • 26% of pancreas transplant beneficiaries
• Over the past five years, women made 36,038 of the 56,509 living organ donations, benefiting in only 17,041 cases.

NOTTO's Advisory

• NOTTO's recommendation aims to correct gender imbalances by giving additional points in allocation criteria to women patients on the waiting list. 
• This move, although well-intentioned, faces potential procedural challenges.

Implementation Challenges

• Current protocols prioritize recipients based on health, not gender.
• No provisions exist for prioritizing women or relatives of previous donors.
• Questions arise on defining 'near relatives' and the eligibility of families involved in cadaveric organ donations since 1995.

Concerns and Considerations

• Potential misuse for out-of-turn allotments amid existing organ harvesting issues.
• Importance of inclusivity and tackling entrenched patriarchal norms.
• Necessity for a participative process with various agencies for proper implementation.
• Adherence to health-based priority to ensure those with the greatest need are not denied.