The 15 Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) was held from 27-30 November 2017 in Cebu, Philippines. Over 900 delegates attended the congress. Dr Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation attended the Congress as a faculty member. The four- day conference had interesting plenary talks, insightful symposia and clinical discussions. The first day there were workshops including one on brain death? There was a wide variety of paper presentations from ethics, trainings, master classes, paediatric transplants to improved outcomes in liver, heart and renal transplant. MOHAN Foundation presented two papers, the podium presentation was on Police Training and the poster was on Organ Donation Helpline. The presentation was highly appreciated. India seems to be the only country to conduct Police Training and have legal issues with cases that go for organ donation. The poster ‘Organ Donation Helpline as a space to promote organ donation – experiences and challenges’ was adjudged the Best Poster Award at the Congress. The abstract of the poster is given below: IntroductionHelp lines offer professional and impartial support to callers. They are a safe trusted space for vulnerable callers. MOHAN Foundation a Non-Government Organisation in India set a free to caller organ donation helpline in August 2012 to promote organ donation. MethodsCalls are taken by trained counsellors and transplant coordinators. A database has been developed to support the counsellors. The helpline number has been promoted in websites, print and TV campaigns on Organ donation. Checks on quality of interactions are done regularly. Regular debriefing and training keeps the staff motivated. ResultsMore than 30% of callers are those who wish to register as donors. 30% of callers are patients or their family members with queries on organ procurement. Around 10% of calls are about trade in organs and organ donation after suicide. 10% of calls are about real time cases of tissue and organ donation. Internet and our website is the primary source for the number (95%). National campaign on organ donation in print and television media has resulted in a spike in calls. DiscussionAs a NGO there is a considerable challenge for resources in today’s environment of outcomes-based funding. Another challenge is to provide the service in all languages in a multilingual country. To increase the reach of the helpline MOHAN Foundation has the number on Organ Sharing websites of 2 states and as a referral on the state medical helpline of 3 states. ConclusionThe helpline has provided a safe space for callers to get correct information on organ donation and transplantation.The 15th  Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) was held from 27-30 November 2017 in Cebu, Philippines. Over 900 delegates attended the congress. Dr Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation attended the Congress as a faculty member.The four- day conference had interesting plenary talks, insightful symposia and clinical discussions. The first day there were workshops including one on brain death? There was a wide variety of paper presentations from ethics, trainings, master classes, paediatric transplants to improved outcomes in liver, heart and renal transplant.MOHAN Foundation presented two papers, the podium presentation was on Police Training and the poster was on Organ Donation Helpline. The presentation was highly appreciated. India seems to be the only country to conduct Police Training and have legal issues with cases that go for organ donation. The poster ‘Organ Donation Helpline as a space to promote organ donation – experiences and challenges’ was adjudged the Best Poster Award at the Congress.The abstract of the poster is given below:IntroductionHelp lines offer professional and impartial support to callers. They are a safe trusted space for vulnerable callers. MOHAN Foundation a Non-Government Organisation in India set a free to caller organ donation helpline in August 2012 to promote organ donation.MethodsCalls are taken by trained counsellors and transplant coordinators. A database has been developed to support the counsellors. The helpline number has been promoted in websites, print and TV campaigns on Organ donation. Checks on quality of interactions are done regularly. Regular debriefing and training keeps the staff motivated.ResultsMore than 30% of callers are those who wish to register as donors. 30% of callers are patients or their family members with queries on organ procurement. Around 10% of calls are about trade in organs and organ donation after suicide. 10% of calls are about real time cases of tissue and organ donation. Internet and our website is the primary source for the number (95%). National campaign on organ donation in print and television media has resulted in a spike in calls.DiscussionAs a NGO there is a considerable challenge for resources in today’s environment of outcomes-based funding. Another challenge is to provide the service in all languages in a multilingual country. To increase the reach of the helpline MOHAN Foundation has the number on Organ Sharing websites of 2 states and as a referral on the state medical helpline of 3 states.ConclusionThe helpline has provided a safe space for callers to get correct information on organ donation and transplantation.

The 15 Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) was held from 27-30 November 2017 in Cebu, Philippines. Over 900 delegates attended the congress. Dr Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation attended the Congress as a faculty member. The four- day conference had interesting plenary talks, insightful symposia and clinical discussions. The first day there were workshops including one on brain death? There was a wide variety of paper presentations from ethics, trainings, master classes, paediatric transplants to improved outcomes in liver, heart and renal transplant. MOHAN Foundation presented two papers, the podium presentation was on Police Training and the poster was on Organ Donation Helpline. The presentation was highly appreciated. India seems to be the only country to conduct Police Training and have legal issues with cases that go for organ donation. The poster ‘Organ Donation Helpline as a space to promote organ donation – experiences and challenges’ was adjudged the Best Poster Award at the Congress. The abstract of the poster is given below: IntroductionHelp lines offer professional and impartial support to callers. They are a safe trusted space for vulnerable callers. MOHAN Foundation a Non-Government Organisation in India set a free to caller organ donation helpline in August 2012 to promote organ donation. MethodsCalls are taken by trained counsellors and transplant coordinators. A database has been developed to support the counsellors. The helpline number has been promoted in websites, print and TV campaigns on Organ donation. Checks on quality of interactions are done regularly. Regular debriefing and training keeps the staff motivated. ResultsMore than 30% of callers are those who wish to register as donors. 30% of callers are patients or their family members with queries on organ procurement. Around 10% of calls are about trade in organs and organ donation after suicide. 10% of calls are about real time cases of tissue and organ donation. Internet and our website is the primary source for the number (95%). National campaign on organ donation in print and television media has resulted in a spike in calls. DiscussionAs a NGO there is a considerable challenge for resources in today’s environment of outcomes-based funding. Another challenge is to provide the service in all languages in a multilingual country. To increase the reach of the helpline MOHAN Foundation has the number on Organ Sharing websites of 2 states and as a referral on the state medical helpline of 3 states. ConclusionThe helpline has provided a safe space for callers to get correct information on organ donation and transplantation.

The 15th  Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) was held from 27-30 November 2017 in Cebu, Philippines. Over 900 delegates attended the congress. Dr Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation attended the Congress as a faculty member.

The four- day conference had interesting plenary talks, insightful symposia and clinical discussions. The first day there were workshops including one on brain death? There was a wide variety of paper presentations from ethics, trainings, master classes, paediatric transplants to improved outcomes in liver, heart and renal transplant.

MOHAN Foundation presented two papers, the podium presentation was on Police Training and the poster was on Organ Donation Helpline. The presentation was highly appreciated. India seems to be the only country to conduct Police Training and have legal issues with cases that go for organ donation. The poster ‘Organ Donation Helpline as a space to promote organ donation – experiences and challenges’ was adjudged the Best Poster Award at the Congress.

The abstract of the poster is given below:

Introduction

Help lines offer professional and impartial support to callers. They are a safe trusted space for vulnerable callers. MOHAN Foundation a Non-Government Organisation in India set a free to caller organ donation helpline in August 2012 to promote organ donation.

Methods

Calls are taken by trained counsellors and transplant coordinators. A database has been developed to support the counsellors. The helpline number has been promoted in websites, print and TV campaigns on Organ donation. Checks on quality of interactions are done regularly. Regular debriefing and training keeps the staff motivated.

Results

More than 30% of callers are those who wish to register as donors. 30% of callers are patients or their family members with queries on organ procurement. Around 10% of calls are about trade in organs and organ donation after suicide. 10% of calls are about real time cases of tissue and organ donation. Internet and our website is the primary source for the number (95%). National campaign on organ donation in print and television media has resulted in a spike in calls.

Discussion

As a NGO there is a considerable challenge for resources in today’s environment of outcomes-based funding. Another challenge is to provide the service in all languages in a multilingual country. To increase the reach of the helpline MOHAN Foundation has the number on Organ Sharing websites of 2 states and as a referral on the state medical helpline of 3 states.

Conclusion

The helpline has provided a safe space for callers to get correct information on organ donation and transplantation.