If everything goes well, soon patients with end-stage liver failure will be prioritised over patients with high MELD scores (a rating system to predict 3-month mortality due to liver disease), for transplants. Nineteen doctors from the Liver Transplant Society have proposed the National Liver Allocation Policy (N-LAP) for deceased donor transplants. If the proposal is accepted, it could have a significant impact on patients in need of liver transplants as per the experts. Currently, there are over 300 people in the city who are suffering from liver disease and a transplant is the only option for their survival. The deceased donor number is still low as compared to the need. So 19 experts from across India had discussions to form a National Liver Allocation Policy (N-LAP) for deceased donor transplants.

Why such a policy

Speaking to mid-day on how N-LAP will help, Dr Ravi Mohanka, director - Liver Transplant and Hepato-Biliary Surgery (HPB) at HN Reliance Foundation Hospital said, “Currently each state has a different policy for allocation of livers from deceased donors. While some states follow Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score to prioritise patients, in others, the waiting time is the basis for prioritisation in many centres. However, clinical urgency, defined as the risk of death or becoming too sick for transplant while on the waiting list was the primary criterion used for allocation in this policy. The policy incentivises organ donation in-house at transplant centres, growth of transplants at public sector hospitals, allocation to children younger than 10 years of age and priority super-urgent allocation to patients with very severe liver failure.”