Pune: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM), Pune chapter has organised an organ donation awareness programme at Patrakar Bhavan auditorium on October 9 at 6 pm to mark its foundation day.

The programme will be free and will include sessions by experts, besides a short play on organ donation, 'Sanjeevan- A Gift of Life'. Kapil Zirpe, President of ISCMM, said, "There are many who need organ transplants. A patient in need of organ transplant dies waiting for organs approximately every 17 minutes, so there is a huge gap between number of patients waiting for organ transplant and number of donors." 

"In the past 20 years, people and doctors have been given knowledge on organ donation and transplantation. The city has seen a boost in cadaver organ donations in recent years. But more needs to bridge the gap and save precious lives," Zirpe said, adding that Ruby Hall Clinic tops cadaver organ donations in the country.