Latest news with #NationalOrganTransplantProgramme
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
World Organ Donation Day: What developing nations can learn from India's organ transplant policy
Among the advances that modern medicine has brought, organ transplantation affirms the very spirit of humanity. For a country like India, creating a robust, ethical, and scalable organ transplant ecosystem was not just a necessity but a moral imperative. When India enacted the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act in 1994, it set a foundation that few developing nations had. It legally recognised brain death, banned commercial organ trade, necessitated hospital registration and oversight, and mandated transplant coordinators. Today, three decades later, we see the results of that vision. India has built one of the most comprehensive and integrated organ transplant frameworks in the Global South — a structured network from the apex National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) to its regional and state units that effectively links donors to recipients through ethical, transparent, and scalable means. India's policy framework today stands out as one of the most thoughtfully designed among developing nations and offers a ready blueprint for others to follow. What makes the system unique is how it has institutionalised trust and integrity. From hospital licensing to protocol-driven brain death certification, every layer of the system builds trust for families agreeing to donate the organs of a loved one — in the deepest moment of their personal loss — to give a gift of life to a stranger. The inclusion of brain death within the law provides the legal basis for deceased organ donation. Strict protocols for brain death declaration by a panel of four doctors, including a neurologist or neurosurgeon — hospitals need to be registered — with only trained transplant coordinators to counsel grieving families, facilitate the donation process. The living organ donation process undergoes a mandatory review by ethical committees known as Transplant Authorisation Committees. These interview donors and recipients, which helps prevent exploitation and organ trafficking. The organisational architecture to implement this legislation is equally impressive. The National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) operating through NOTTO has the mandate to improve awareness about a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of organ failure, raise awareness about organ and tissue donation from deceased persons, augment infrastructure for transplantation, and provide training for manpower and research. NOTTO operates via five Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (ROTTOs) and 21 State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTOs), coordinating 966 hospitals/institutions, including 702 organ transplant cent, 142 organ retrieval centers, and the remaining as tissue centres across India. This hierarchical network supports equitable donor allocation, standardised operating procedures and donor registries at state and national levels, helping reduce waste and ensure fair matching for patients in need. Equally important has been the role of coordination and public-private partnership. India's policy empowers NGOs, civil society, and private hospitals to work with government authorities. Non-governmental organisations such as the MOHAN foundation have built and managed transplant coordinator training programmes in partnership with medical authorities. Well-trained coordinators considerably boost consent rates for deceased donation, and these professionals, working out of hospitals nationwide, help to identify potential donors, educate families, and manage logistics. Public-private partnerships also help in creating protocols for donor identification, consent, transportation and allocation. The results are evident. Annual organ donation has climbed from fewer than 5,000 in 2013 to over 15,000 by 2022. Perhaps the most striking example of India's policy gains is seen in Tamil Nadu. By making brain death certification mandatory in 2008 and establishing a state transplant authority, TRANSTAN, in 2015, and operating a state registry for fair allocation, Tamil Nadu raised its deceased donation rate to 1.8 per million, which is above the national average of 0.65 per million. Andhra Pradesh's Jeevandan programme has deployed mobile transplant coordinator teams between hospitals, introduced financial and funeral support to donor families, and elevated state‑honour recognition. This helped the state to cross 200 deceased organ donations in 2024. While India's journey has not been without its challenges, with consent rates varying across regions, the policy mechanisms in place to address them are what make India's system replicable. Our vision must go beyond geography. India now has the opportunity, and indeed the responsibility, to share its policy framework with other developing nations. Other developing countries can take a leaf out of India's transplant policies. Establishing a central legislative act that defines brain death and banning organ commerce is the first step. Creating accountability structures, such as mandatory transplant authorisation committees and hospital licensing for transplantation, ensures legal and ethical compliance. Offering emotional support and recognition to donor families reinforces public trust and encourages future donations. States could begin with pilot programmes in a few key hospitals, identify effective coordinators, and gradually scale. The legislative and administrative architecture is already proven and ready for adaptation. India's example shows how a carefully crafted policy framework can reshape outcomes. If other developing nations adopt and adapt these institutional lessons, they too can extend the gift of life to thousands more. The writer is founder-chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group
News18
22-07-2025
- Health
- News18
India records nearly fourfold rise in annual organ transplants since 2013: Govt
Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) The total number of organ transplants performed annually in the country has increased from 4,990 in 2013 to 18,910 in 2024 due to consistent efforts over the years, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply, Jadhav said the number of deceased donor organ transplants has risen from 837 in 2013 to 3,403 in 2024, while the organ donation rate (deceased donors per million population) has improved from 0.27 to 0.81 during the same period. The number of deceased organ donors has grown from 340 in 2013 to 1,128 in 2024, he said. 'India currently ranks third globally in total organ transplants and stands first in living donor organ transplants," Jadhav stated. To strengthen the organ transplantation ecosystem, states are encouraged to identify gaps and take proactive measures. They can seek assistance from the Centre through the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP), he said. Under NOTP, financial grants are provided to states based on proposals received for establishing Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (ROTTOs) and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTOs). The programme also supports infrastructure development in public sector facilities for setting up transplant or retrieval centres and tissue banks. Funding is also extended for hiring transplant coordinators in government medical colleges and trauma centres, maintenance of deceased donors, organ transport, post-transplant immunosuppressant medication, and awareness, training, and capacity-building initiatives. Jadhav informed the House that people can avail the Kidney Transplantation Package under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) as part of the Ayushman Bharat programme. In addition, financial assistance is provided under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) for kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplants for patients living below the poverty line. While health is a state subject, it is the responsibility of state governments to ensure the availability of required facilities and services for organ transplantation within their jurisdictions, Jadhav said. As per the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (THOTA), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set up a three-tier national network comprising the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), ROTTOs, and SOTTOs. NOTTO functions as the apex body for coordination, networking, and maintenance of the national registry for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The NOTP, a Central Sector Scheme, aims to improve access to organ transplants through increased public awareness on deceased organ donation, streamlined organ procurement and distribution systems, public infrastructure development, and specialised manpower training, the minister added. PTI PLB HIG HIG view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 20:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Govt constitutes panel for organ and tissue transplant programme
Vijayawada: The state govt constituted a steering committee for the smooth functioning of the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) and the implementation of various activities under the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) guidelines. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This initiative aims to boost the donor transplant programme, with the director of medical education (DME) AP serving as its chairperson. Special chief secretary (Medical & Health) M T Krishna Babu issued a govt order (GO) RT No 452, constituting the steering committee with a chairperson and six members. Chief transplant coordinator (CTC) Jeevandhan, AP, was appointed as the committee's member secretary on Tuesday. The steering committee members include Nephrology and Urology professors from Kurnool and Andhra Medical Colleges, along with superintendents of AIIMS Mangalagiri and GGH Guntur. Additionally, the Government Pleader of the Health Medical and Family Welfare department, the Joint Director (Medical) office of DME, AP, and the Administrative Officer of Jeevandhan, AP, are also part of the committee.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Just a scan away: Mobile organ donation drive to roll out with smart tech
Citizens will soon be able to register as organ donors simply by scanning a QR code on a specially-equipped van that is set to be launched on or before Organ Donation Day on August 3. The van is equipped with a QR-code scanning system. (SOURCED IMAGE) The State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) of Uttar Pradesh has introduced this initiative to boost organ donation awareness and streamline donor registration. The van, which will travel across Uttar Pradesh, is designed not just for awareness campaigns but also serves as a one-stop solution for organ donation pledges. With a built-in scanner system, individuals can instantly access and complete the donor registration process online, eliminating the need for cumbersome paperwork. This innovative step comes as part of a wider set of initiatives championed by Dr Rajesh Harsvardhan, joint director of SOTTO-UP, operating under the department of hospital administration at SGPGIMS, Lucknow. After sustained efforts, repeated proposals and high-level meetings, SOTTO-UP has secured key approvals and funding under the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP). SOTTO has secured sanction of Rs1.5 crore for establishing a lung transplant program at King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow. It has also got Rs1.43 crore for launching a renal transplant program at GSVM Medical College, Kanpur. It has also received additional funding for a Multi-Utility Vehicle (MUV) to support logistics and awareness activities This MUV, procured via the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and branded for organ donation awareness, serves multiple roles: facilitating quick deployment of transplant teams post brain stem death (BSD) declaration, transporting harvested organs, and conducting mobile pledge drives across cities and towns in Uttar Pradesh. 'The van is equipped with a QR-code scanning system, allowing people to pledge their organs in just a few seconds,' said Dr Harsvardhan. 'It's a tech-forward, user-friendly initiative aimed at increasing participation in organ donation.' To ensure long-term functionality, a dedicated, covered parking facility for the vehicle has also been constructed at SGPGIMS by the civil engineering department. The successful rollout of the mobile scanner initiative within a month stands as a milestone for SOTTO-UP, which executed the procurement and infrastructure support efficiently, adhering strictly to institutional and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) guidelines. This campaign is expected to significantly boost organ donation pledges in the state by taking the message directly to the public—and putting the power to save lives in their hands, quite literally, with a simple scan.
Observer
03-06-2025
- General
- Observer
139 organ donation operations performed since January 2023
By Noura al Abriyah MUSCAT: The National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) said that it had made several achievements during the period from January 2023 to May 2025, including a heart transplant from a brain-dead patient, 116 corneal transplants, 18 kidney transplants, four liver transplants and the diagnosis of 88 brain-dead cases. Eleven families gave consent to donate organs from their brain-dead members and 72 families promised to consider donating an organ after the death of a family member. The NOTP paid 800 visits to intensive care patients. Reports were received from intensive care units regarding 229 suspected brain-dead cases, the NOTP said. As part of its continued efforts, the NOTP held more than 100 events to raise community awareness of the importance of organ donation, and the number of registered users of the Shifaa app crossed 20,000. The NOTP explained that organ donation after brain death can save the lives of eight people suffering from organ failure and significantly improve their quality of life. Organs that can be donated after death include the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas as well as human tissue such as the cornea, heart valves, among others. The NOTP indicated that organ donation after death requires a written will. In exceptional cases, a human organ or tissue may be transferred from a deceased person with the consent of their guardian and death must be definitively proven as per the regulations governing the transfer and transplantation of human organs and tissues. Citizens and residents wishing to register as an organ donor after death can download the Ministry of Health's Shifa app on smart devices and register on the organ donation page. The NOTP launched a national campaign to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. The campaign aimed to introduce the national programme, its objectives, and relevant laws. It also sought to explain the suffering of organ failure patients and present the experiences of organ donors and recipient patients. One of the most important themes the NOTP aims to convey to community members through the campaign is raising awareness of the causes of organ failure and how to prevent and control these causes, primarily diabetes and chronic hypertension. The NOTP warned against the dangers of dealing with the black markets to buy human organs. The campaign also aimed to build an effective partnership between various relevant sectors and to clarify how these sectors support organ failure patients, living organ donors and the families of organ donors after brain death. It also aimed to explain the concept of brain death by specialists and to refute rumors related to organ transplantation. The campaign covered all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman during which direct meetings were held with health officials, health sector workers, dialysis centres, intensive care doctors and nurses and lectures were delivered to health workers to introduce the National Transplant Programme.
