The Advanced Transplant Coordinators’ Workshop, titled Strengthening Practices in Organ Donation and Transplantation, was jointly organized by MOHAN Foundation and NATCO (Network and Alliance of Transplant Coordinators) on February 9, 2025, at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi.

Transplant coordinators with more than five years of experience were invited to this workshop. The workshop addressed critical topics expected to shape organ donation and transplantation in the coming years.

Financial Neutrality in Deceased Organ Donation

Dr. Thomas Mueller, Co-Chair of the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG), Senior Advisor Kidney for Swiss Transplant, and a practising nephrologist, elaborated on the genesis of the DICG. He provided insights into the increasing global demand for organs and examined whether financial neutrality for donors and their families is a viable concept. The discussion touched on ethical and practical implications of such policies, referencing the Tehran model, which supports financial incentives for living kidney donors. The readiness of the global transplant community to explore incentives for organ donation and how Indian transplant community perceive financial neutrality in deceased organ donation were discussed.

The session was chaired by Dr. Ashish Nandwani, Consultant, Department of Nephrology & Renal Transplant Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Delhi, and Dr. Ilango Sethu, Head of the Department, GI Surgery & Solid Organ Transplant, Naruvi Hospital, Vellore.

Intersection of End-of-Life Care, BSD, and Deceased Donation

Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee of MOHAN Foundation, Chennai, led an engaging session that began with the results of a survey conducted among senior transplant coordinators on end-of-life care (EOLC) protocols in hospitals. He highlighted the necessity of mandatory EOLC protocols and the critical role of transplant coordinators in communicating difficult news to families.

The discussion also covered topics such as organ donation in the presence of extended family, reasons for family refusals, and challenges associated with brain stem death (BSD) certification in paediatric patients, pregnant women, and snake bite victims.

The panelists included Dr. Deepak Gupta, Prof. of Neurosurgery JPN Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Amol Mahaldar, Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician, Manipal Hospital, Goa; Ms. Dhvani Mehta, Co-founder at Vidhi and Lead, Health  Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi; Iva Pandey, Assistant Manager/Grief Counsellor at Medanta - The Medicity Hospital, Gurugram; and Lt. Col. Chetna Sharma, Senior Transplant Coordinator, AORTA, Army Hospital R&R, New Delhi.

Dr. Thomas Mueller, Co-Chair of the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group, Senior Advisor Kidney for Swiss Transplant speaking on Financial Neutrality in Deceased Organ Donation.

Donation After Circulatory Death – Are We Ready?

Dr. Avnish Seth, Head - Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka & Head, MOST (Manipal Organ Sharing and Transplant), moderated an insightful discussion on Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD).

The panelists deliberated on the necessary consent processes for cases transitioning from DBD to DCD. Dr. Shrikanth Srinivasan, Head of Critical Care Medicine at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, discussed clinical and medical aspects of DCD certification and the importance of time management. Dr. Anant Kumar, Chairman, Urology & Renal Transplant & Robotics, Max Hospital, Saket, emphasized transparency with families when donation methods change. The session also touched upon the need for regulatory updates to facilitate DCD implementation in hospitals across India.

Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation briefing deceased organ donation progress in India

Panelists for this session included Dr. Shrikanth Srinivasan, Dr. Anant Kumar, and Dr. Navdeep Bansal, Organ Transplant Coordinator at PGIMER, Chandigarh.

The workshop fostered dynamic discussions among the transplant coordinators, allowing them to share experiences, concerns, and best practices. It successfully provided participants with the latest insights, challenges, and advancements in organ donation and transplantation. Engaging sessions encouraged reflection on evolving transplant protocols and the role of coordinators in improving organ donation outcomes.

Dr. Deepak Gupta Prof. of Neurosurgery, JPN Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS at the workshop. Other panelists (left-right) Iva Pandey & Dhvani Mehta

Dr. Shrikanth Srinivasan, Head of Critical Care Medicine at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka explaining the Maastricht Classification. Other panelists (left-right) Dr. Navdeep Bansal & Dr. Anant Kumar

Experts at the workshop - Dr Ilango Sethu, Dr Ashish Nandwani, Dr Sunil Shroff & Dr Thomas Mueller