Duplications spotted in organ wait lists
CHENNAI, MARCH 02, 2019 00:00 IST
Transtan to identify such multiple registrationsfor kidney, liver transplants
Nearly 200 patients waiting for kidney and liver transplantations in the State have registered with more than one hospital. The Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (Transtan) has now taken up an exercise to identify such multiple registrations that have led to the creation of a long waiting list, thereby slowing down the process for many patients waiting for organs.
At least 180 patients on the active waiting list for kidneys and 20 patients on the active waiting list for liver have registered with more than one hospital. For instance, one of them has registered with nine hospitals, while another has registered with four.
They also found that almost 900 patients on the inactive waiting lists for both organs would have to be removed as they were either dead, had undergone transplant, were not on follow-up or were unwilling for transplant. This was because hospitals did not update the lists, officials said.
When a patient with end-stage organ failure registers for transplant under the deceased donor programme at the hospital where he/she is undergoing treatment, a unique identification number (UID) is issued. They pay Rs. 1,000 for the registration. Hospitals are bound to take an undertaking from patients that they are not registered elsewhere.
Switching hospitals
If a patient chooses to move to another hospital while waiting on the list, he/she should submit a letter to Transtan along with a letter from the consultant at the new hospital expressing willingness to take over. When the transfer is processed, the UID, along with seniority is maintained, and the hospital where the patient was initially registered is notified to remove the name from the list as per rules of Transtan.
However, this was not the case with many patients. “Knowingly or unknowingly, nearly 200 of them have registered with many hospitals. These entries were done by misspelling their names, dropping surnames or initials, entering different dates of birth or minor changes in addresses,” said R. Kanthimathy, member-secretary of Transtan.
It was a random check that led Transtan staff to the duplications in the kidney and liver waiting lists. The transplant authority has now taken up an exercise to identify patients with multiple registrations on the waiting lists. They are doing a blood group-wise filtering of patients to pick up duplications.
“We are halfway through this exercise to streamline the waiting list. We are calling up patients to verify their registrations. Some of them are aware that they are registered with several hospitals, while others are not. We have always insisted that hospitals update their waiting lists every month,” she said.
Dr. Kanthimathy said they had taken a hospital-wise list and were in the process of intimating hospitals to delete such cases. “We have started sending emails to hospitals. They should delete multiple registrations, remove names of patients who died while on the wait list and those who have undergone transplantations,” she added.
She said multiple registrations would only make the waiting list longer. “The list will not move if this is the case. Patients will not benefit from multiple registrations and they have to understand this,” she added. For queries regarding their registrations, patients can call Transtan office at 044-25333676.
CHENNAI, MARCH 02, 2019 00:00 IST
Transtan to identify such multiple registrationsfor kidney, liver transplants
Nearly 200 patients waiting for kidney and liver transplantations in the State have registered with more than one hospital. The Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (Transtan) has now taken up an exercise to identify such multiple registrations that have led to the creation of a long waiting list, thereby slowing down the process for many patients waiting for organs.
At least 180 patients on the active waiting list for kidneys and 20 patients on the active waiting list for liver have registered with more than one hospital. For instance, one of them has registered with nine hospitals, while another has registered with four.
They also found that almost 900 patients on the inactive waiting lists for both organs would have to be removed as they were either dead, had undergone transplant, were not on follow-up or were unwilling for transplant. This was because hospitals did not update the lists, officials said.
When a patient with end-stage organ failure registers for transplant under the deceased donor programme at the hospital where he/she is undergoing treatment, a unique identification number (UID) is issued. They pay Rs. 1,000 for the registration. Hospitals are bound to take an undertaking from patients that they are not registered elsewhere.
Switching hospitals
If a patient chooses to move to another hospital while waiting on the list, he/she should submit a letter to Transtan along with a letter from the consultant at the new hospital expressing willingness to take over. When the transfer is processed, the UID, along with seniority is maintained, and the hospital where the patient was initially registered is notified to remove the name from the list as per rules of Transtan.
However, this was not the case with many patients. “Knowingly or unknowingly, nearly 200 of them have registered with many hospitals. These entries were done by misspelling their names, dropping surnames or initials, entering different dates of birth or minor changes in addresses,” said R. Kanthimathy, member-secretary of Transtan.
It was a random check that led Transtan staff to the duplications in the kidney and liver waiting lists. The transplant authority has now taken up an exercise to identify patients with multiple registrations on the waiting lists. They are doing a blood group-wise filtering of patients to pick up duplications.
“We are halfway through this exercise to streamline the waiting list. We are calling up patients to verify their registrations. Some of them are aware that they are registered with several hospitals, while others are not. We have always insisted that hospitals update their waiting lists every month,” she said.
Dr. Kanthimathy said they had taken a hospital-wise list and were in the process of intimating hospitals to delete such cases. “We have started sending emails to hospitals. They should delete multiple registrations, remove names of patients who died while on the wait list and those who have undergone transplantations,” she added.
She said multiple registrations would only make the waiting list longer. “The list will not move if this is the case. Patients will not benefit from multiple registrations and they have to understand this,” she added. For queries regarding their registrations, patients can call Transtan office at 044-25333676.
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