Vision on Paper, Action at Last: Maharashtra to Maintain District-Wise Eye Donation Waitlist After 16-Year Delay

After more than a decade of judicial nudges and public advocacy, the Maharashtra government has finally committed to maintaining a district-wise waitlist for eye transplants—a move expected to bring transparency, efficiency, and hope to thousands of visually impaired citizens across the state.

The announcement came during a hearing at the Bombay High Court, marking the resolution of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2009 by activist Sampat Shetty. The PIL had highlighted the alarming underutilization of donated eyes and the absence of a centralized system to track recipients waiting for corneal transplants.

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the long-delayed reform and what it means for eye donation and transplantation in Maharashtra.

1. Background: A 16-Year Legal Journey

- The PIL filed in 2009 pointed out that only 14 percent of eyes donated by deceased individuals were being used for transplants in Maharashtra  
- The petition demanded the formation of an advisory committee under Section 13-A of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994  
- In 2011, the Bombay High Court directed the state to prepare a district-wise list of applicants for organ transplants, particularly eyes  
- Despite forming the advisory committee in 2012, it failed to hold a single meeting before its term ended in 2014  
- Expert committee recommendations in 2014 reiterated the need for monthly updates from eye transplant centers to district program managers  

2. The State’s New Commitment

- The Maharashtra government has now assured the court that it will maintain a district-wise database of patients awaiting eye transplants  
- This database will be hosted on the Public Health Department’s official website and updated regularly  
- The move aligns with expert guidelines that call for monthly submissions of waitlists by eye transplant centers  
- The court officially disposed of the PIL on July 7, 2025, after receiving the state’s commitment  

3. Why This Matters: The Eye Donation Gap

- India faces a massive shortfall in corneal donations, with over 6.8 million people affected by corneal blindness  
- Maharashtra’s usage rate of donated eyes—just 14 percent—reflects systemic inefficiencies in retrieval, storage, and allocation  
- A district-wise waitlist will help match donors with recipients faster and reduce wastage of viable corneas  
- It will also allow better monitoring of eye banks and transplant centers, ensuring accountability and equitable access  

4. Operational Guidelines and Oversight

- Eye transplant centers must submit updated waitlists to district program managers on the first day of each month  
- The advisory authority under the 1994 Act will oversee licensing, quality inspections, and compliance with transplant standards  
- The database will include details of patients, transplant centers, and eye banks operating in each district  
- The system is expected to streamline coordination between hospitals, eye banks, and government agencies  

5. Public Awareness and Future Steps

- Experts stress the need for awareness campaigns to encourage families to honor pledges for eye donation  
- The government is expected to revive the advisory committee and ensure regular meetings to monitor progress  
- NGOs and eye banks may be roped in to support data collection, donor mobilization, and post-transplant care  
- The initiative could serve as a model for other states struggling with similar inefficiencies in organ donation  

Conclusion

While the delay has been long and costly, Maharashtra’s renewed commitment to maintaining a district-wise eye donation waitlist signals a turning point in public health governance. If implemented effectively, it could restore sight to thousands and rebuild public trust in the organ donation system.

Sources: Hindustan Times, MSN Health, Bombay High Court Proceedings, Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994