A text message sent by Priyanka Gandhi, who could not attend the function, was read out by doctors of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SRGH), which organised the event.
“You are welcome to announce my name as a donor if it helps the cause,” the message read.
Brinda Karat, CPM Politburo member, registered herself with the AIIMS Organ Retrieval and Banking Organisation (ORBO) during the event.
Dr D S Rana, Chairman, Board of Management SGRH, said the rate of organ donation is only 0.8 per million people whereas in UK it is 17 per million and in Spain it is 35 per million. “If only 20 per cent of the families of people who had a brain death donated their organs, the requirements in India would be met,” he said.
Dr Aarti Vij, in-charge of ORBO at AIIMS, the only government organ donors’ registry, said there were over 17,000 registered donors, but many more were needed.