India, Feb. 12 -- The public health department of Maharashtra has launched a focused drive to boost deceased organ donation, admitting that more than half of the state's registered transplant centres are performing below expectations despite a rapidly rising demand for organs, health officials said on Wednesday.

Following directions from health minister Prakash Abitkar, the department over the past few months has intensified efforts to increase brain-dead deceased donations and reduce reliance on live donors. Review meetings and workshops with government and private hospitals have been held in Aurangabad, Nanded, Thane and Pune to strengthen coordination and counselling of donor families.

A state-level consultation and meeting was held ...