The state of Tamil Nadu has been conferred with the first rank in the country for organ donation. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had made the announcement on Friday and revealed that the southern state has been awarded the best state in the country for organ donation for the sixth consecutive year. 

On Friday, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization of the Health Ministry gave the award to Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabaskar and Health Secretary Radhakrishnan in the event that was held virtually. The event was conducted by the Health Ministry in Delhi and it was attended by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. 

The officials from the Tamil Nadu health department had also attended the virtual ceremony. Vijayabaskar has attended the meeting from his hometown Pudukottai and the Tamil Nadu Health Minister had received the award of securing the first rank in India for organ donation. Following the award, Vijayabaskar has thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami for supporting the organ donation programme. 

The state health minister further stated that Tamil Nadu attained the top rank for the sixth consecutive time due to the efforts of the state transplant authority - TRANSTAN. By commending the Chief Minister for his support, the health minister requested the former to provide special priority in jobs for the families of donors like the families of ex-servicemen and sportspersons. 

While speaking to the reporters, Vijayabaskar said that organ donors are the backbone of this achievement. The health minister stated that the award is dedicated to the organ donors who decided to donate organs. Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Radhakrishnan joined the event from Chennai along with senior health department officials and after the state is bestowed with the award for the sixth consecutive year, Radhakrishnan said that donors come forward to give lives to eight other persons. 

The bureaucrat revealed that 1392 organ donors have donated 8845 organs so far and donors from 75 districts across the country had donated 255 organs even during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Health Secretary has said that the state has made 48 multi-organ transplantations till date and the government has installed 33 green corridors to facilitate the transportation of organs from Chennai Airport with the help of the police department. 

The state government has taken measures to avoid mishaps while taking the organs from one place to the other. Radhakrishnan further added that Tamil Nadu has performed six lung transplant surgeries for COVID-19 recovered patients. Over 400 patients have got benefitted through organ transplantation in government hospitals under the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme. During the press conference, Vijayabaskar said that the state has been at the forefront in all areas of healthcare including reducing maternal mortality, infant mortality, and curbing the spread of COVID-19. The minister added that the entire process of registration for organ donation has been made online and people can register themselves and get a donor card and further stated that the state government will soon launch the air ambulance facility.