New Delhi, Febuary 01: The Dera Sacha Sauda and Tarksheel Society have announced their willingness to donate bodies to medical colleges in south India which have been facing a severe shortage of cadavers due to increase in number of seats over recent years.
Over the past couple of years, the two social organisations have donated so many bodies for research that medical colleges in north India are now self-sufficient in cadavers.
“Recently, we wanted to donate a body to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, but the college had spare bodies. We had no choice but to cremate,” said Megh Raj Mitter, founder and chief patron of Tarksheel Society, explaining why they where now looking for colleges down south.
Dera Sacha Sauda spokesman Dr Aditya Insaan said his organisation would create a centralised donation facility for temporary storage of cadavers at Sirsa. Some years ago when colleges in north India too were faced with a shortage, the Dera had asked its followers to donate bodies for medical research.
“It is really appreciable if there are organisations willing to donate bodies. We usually require 14 cadavers for dissection per year, but at present we have only three bodies for our next session,” said Dr G T Subhas, director, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Dr Subhas said cadavers are also required by general surgeons and neurosurgeons to practice surgical procedures.
Dr S Kantha, former vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, said most medical institutes in Karnataka face an acute shortage of cadavers because of superstitions. “Work definitely suffers. Bodies are not available in the required number. How will the students learn?” asked Dr Kantha.
—-Agencies