Panel 1: Improving access to Paediatric Liver Transplants in India: How to reach children in need?

How to reach children in need of a Liver Transplant?
Out of the two thousand children who need a liver transplant in India each year, approximately a hundred and fifty children get access to it. Why are 90% of the children who need transplants not getting the medical support they need?
In search of these answers and to identify ways to reach children in need of a liver transplant, The Pravin Agarwal Foundation on the eve of the World Organ Donation Day, hosted a panel discussion to discuss ways to improve the outreach of Paediatric Liver Transplants in India.
The main barriers to referrals identified were the cost of the surgery and the lack of awareness amongst doctors and patients regarding the available financial assistance. Paediatricians are reluctant to refer their patients because of information bias regarding the high success rate of the surgery. The mindset of the patient’s family, the option of conceiving another child, aversion to surgery for the healthy ‘liver donor’, and prohibitive costs leave the diseased children no hope to get the necessary treatment.
Paediatric Liver Transplant surgery has to be popularised by creating a network of healthcare professionals and establishing a credible body with a repository of data for the medical fraternity as well as potential patients to access information. There is also a need to provide a platform for the various stakeholders within the ecosystem to engage. Through this, we hope Paediatric Liver Transplant Surgery will be considered as a viable solution which is within reach.

Panellists

Dr Sonal Asthana
Senior HPB and Multiorgan Transplant Surgeon,
Integrated Liver Care, ASTER
Dr Senthil Kumar
Professor,
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS)
Dr Aabha Nagral
MD, DNB Coordinator, Department of Gastroenterology ,
Jaslok Hospital and Research Center

Dr Tom Cherian
Head of Division, HPB Surgery & Liver Transplantation,
Care Hospitals Group