A proposal to bring families of organ donors in the 'priority list' thereby extending benefits available to ex-servicemen and other similar categories, was under the consideration of the Tamil Nadu government, state Health Minister said on 13th August.

The proposal would be put before the chief minister to give a final shape, he said, speaking at the World Organ Day function organised by CII-Yi and Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, Coimbatore. Family members of organ donors will be placed in the priority list, which will enable them get government benefits, like ex-servicemen and others in the list, he added. The government can think of providing them with green house and also a government job to one of the members, he said.

Tamil Nadu was a forerunner in organ donation and had been receiving an award from the Centre for the last four years, he said. So far 1,267 brain dead people had donated their organs, giving a new lease of life to 7,568 needy patients, the minister added. By introducing air-ambulance in the State, by an agreement with Australia, the trauma death rate was reduced from 8.3 per cent to 2.8 per cent and nearly 4,300 persons were saved from the death, he said.

Earlier, Vijayabaskar launched free pneumococcal vaccine programme at the Government Hospital Coimbatore, for the first time in India.