This newsletter is the first of its kind from India. Since the passing of the historical “THE TRANSPLANTATION OF HUMAN ORGANS ACT” in 1994, the cadaver transplantation activity in India has led to transplantation of most of the organs like kidney, heart, lung, and liver. The eye donation programme has also benefited from the cadaver programme. However, even after four years the Act has failed to make any significant impact on the national scene. The government unfortunately has not helped in any way in spreading the message of organ donation nor have they managed to streamline the Act by making small amendments to make the process of organ donation simpler.

For a ‘national programme’ to succeed a common platform is necessary. The purpose of publishing this newsletter is to provide this platform and give a voice to this programme. It will keep regular track of the Indian transplant activities and from time to time look at programmes from abroad with a view to generate ideas to help our Indian programme. It will also carry opinions from people both from India and abroad who are actually on the transplant scene and are responsible for the success of the cadaver programme in their region. Overall all the possibilities will be explored to find ways of improving our efforts to make this Act a success.

Chennai should soon cross the magical figure of hundred for cadaver transplants and has done relatively better than other parts of the country. In this first issue, besides carrying news of the transplant happening in India and abroad for the past six months, we also carry an interview with Dr. R. K. Hariharan from Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. This little known doctor works in the Critical Care Unit of the hospital and is the first to ‘break the ice’ between the grieving relatives of Brain death donor’s family members.

We wish to invite opinions and suggestions in the form of letters from the doctors and members of the public. In the long run, it is your regular contributions, which will make this an interesting newsletter.