https://imcjms.com Ibrahim Medical College Journal of Medical Science https://imcjms.com/registration/journal_full_text/218 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:01:59 +0000 Organs that can be transplanted are the heart, kidneys, eyes, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestine and thymus. Transplantable tissues and cells include bones, tendons, cornea, bone marrow, skin, heart valves, veins and islet cells of pancreas. Worldwide, the kidneys are the most commonly transplanted organs followed by liver and the heart. Organ transplantation in Bangladesh is emerging steadily, but still in its budding stage of development. Cornea transplantation began as early as 1974. Despite massive public awareness campaign extending over 3 decades about cornea donation countering the false perceptions in the society, to-date only about 150-175 cornea transplants are done every year in four centres at Dhaka. The first successful kidney transplantation was done at the then Institute of Postgraduate Medicine & Research (now Bangladesh Sheikh Mujib Medical University) in October 1982 and thereafter regular kidney transplantation from ‘living donor’ donations of close relatives only has been continuing since 1988. Only around 1000 patients had kidney transplantation within the country since then. However, demand for kidney transplants far outstrips the number of available organ donors. It is estimated that only 130 patients (of end stage renal failure requiring kidney transplant) on average can manage donors to undergo kidney transplant against the annual demand of estimated 5000. More recently, the first successful liver transplantation of the country was done in June 2010 at BIRDEM Hospital, followed by yet another successful transplant in August 2011 in the same Institute. Presently, organ transplantation (kiney & liver) are done from ‘living donor’ donation of close relatives only. The law does not permit selling organs or taking organs from living strangers. However, recent media reports suggest that many of the organ transplants are happening through commercial dealings, raising debate on ethical issues. Unfortunately the debate produced negative impact on public awareness about organ donation and virtually put the organ transplantation in the country on hold. Patients desperately in need of life saving transplants are either dying or suffering excruciating pain and hoping perhaps against hope that someone in the family will make enormous personal sacrifice to donate organ; or are leaving the country if they can afford in search for a commercial donor and a transplant abroad. Transplant facilities must also be started in the Government Hospitals so that common people get its benefit.  More transplant centers should be started in the private hospitals so that all types of transplants will be easily available with affordable cost within the country. Infact, development of ‘multi-organs transplant centres’ will be our ultimate goal.     Honorary Professor 2026 Ibrahim Medical College. All rights reserved.