Eying an increase in donation

The guest of honour, Dr AlkaKarande, civic Executive Health Officer, ruled out any kind of monetary aid towards such a programme because of the massive deficit the BMC is grappling with, but promised to help the EBAI garner aid from foreign agencies.

Dr Balpande, representing the state government, said he would ensure that the money set aside by the Central Government 8211; a one-time investment of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 500 for each eyeball 8211; was made available to eye banks. He also promised to assist EBAI with proposed changes to the Human Organs Act, 1994. These include making requests on donations mandatory by managements and presuming consent in medico-legal cases where cornea removal does not affect a post-mortem.

Other suggestions included the framing of an appeal form by the head of the hospital in wards and waiting rooms so that the idea was bounced off those who came there, eye donation information kiosks at blood donation camps, ensuring that doctors made examples of their families by donating their corneas and introducing removalmethods as part of medical syllabi and internship.