A three-day symposium on organ donation was held at INHS Asvini, Mumbai. The symposium was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

In his welcome address, Surg Rear Admiral VK Singh, Commanding Officer, INHS Asvini emphasised that there is a need to create awareness about "brain stem death and organ donation". He said that the brain stem death has been accepted all over the world and the Indian Government has legalised it with promulgation of Human Organs Transplantation Act in 1994.

The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief unveiled the donor card and Surg Rear Admiral P Sivadas, Command Medical Officer, Headquarters, Western Naval Command released a booklet on organ donation. Prof Vidya Acharya, in her key-note address, stressed that the organ donation after death is the need of the day.

A number of service medical officers and civil doctors participated in the symposium. A surgical workshop held as part of the symposium highlighted the importance of laparoscopic kidney removal surgery.

Surg Vice Admiral S Malhotra, Director General Medical Service (Navy), Dr V Jha and Dr A Almida also took part in the symposium.