A timely organ transplant is often the difference between life and death for those in need, pushing them to do whatever it takes to save it.
Many people desperate for a transplant are travelling to developing countries to buy organs, irrespective of the risks involved.
A new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia has found that India has emerged as one of the most frequented destinations for Australians in need of transplants, second only to China-fuelling an ever-expanding illegal market for sought-after human organs.
The survey revealed that there were 129 reported cases of overseas transplants between 1980 and 2018. And about 90 per cent of those who travelled overseas for transplants were not born in Australia.
Professor Toby Coates, president of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand, who also co-authored the study, told SBS Punjabi that people born overseas might think they wouldn’t get quick or equal access to transplants in Australia.
“As a consequence of that, they’re looking overseas as potential options for transplants.
“I was astounded to discover that nearly two-thirds of doctors involved in transplantations in the Australian, NZ Society of Nephrology and the Transplantation Society of Australia and NZ had spoken to their patients about travelling overseas for transplants, Prof Coates said.
“And 50% of them had cared for at least one such patient who had undergone surgery abroad."
Professor Coates said that patients going to their country of birth for a genetically related transplant or for a better support system at home is a legitimate reason to travel, but we are most concerned about people who travel to countries like India because they feel they might be able to access an organ quickly.
“People feel they may jump the queue by heading overseas and paying for an organ. The major concerns about this are the potential quality of the organs they might receive and the potential infectious complications that they may get from donors who have not necessarily have been appropriately screened.
“Patients often return with serious infections, HIV, or other untreatable diseases, which is the biggest concern,” he added.
The Organ and Tissue Authority told SBS Punjabi that there is no country in the world that has ever had enough donated organs to meet the demand.
“Australia has world-class transplant outcomes and more than 10,000 Australians have received a lifesaving transplant since the national donation program commenced in 2009.
“We have the best practice organ donation system across 95 hospitals. This has seen Australia more than double the number of organ donors and transplant recipients over the first decade of the national program,” said an OTA spokesperson.
Professor Coates said it is extremely important to educate people, particularly migrants, that Australia can take care of their transplant needs and the fact that it is totally free.
“All transplants procedures in Australia are free. It is a reimbursed procedure. So there are no out of pocket costs for anyone to have a transplant in Australia. But if you’re travelling to India, you’ll be paying the cost of the hospital, the procedure and the drugs upfront. In addition, you run the risk of getting an infection and also this is an illegal act under the Australian law as it currently stands."
Currently, there are 1,400 Australians on organ transplantation waitlist and a further 11,000 patients on dialysis and experts believe this need for transplants will continue to increase as it is around the world.
“It is important to raise awareness on the issue. The more we talk about this and the more we make people aware of the downsides of doing this overseas, in comparison to having a transplant here, the better-informed people will make a more sensible choice which is not to undergo a transplant abroad,” said Professor Coates.
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