Encouraging Organ Transplantation

(Judicial Quest News Service)

To improve access to the transplantation for needy patients by promoting deceased organ donation,the Government has put in place National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP). Under thisprogramme,an apex level National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) at New Delhi and Five Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs) at Chandigarh, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati have been set up. The Government has released funds to establish State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha and Uttar Pradeshto organize an efficient mechanism for organ and tissue procurement/retrieval to promotedeceased organ and tissue donation.

Further, to improve infrastructure for human organ and tissue retrieval, storage and transplantation in all parts of the country, the Government has:

• Set up National/ Regional Bio-material Centres;
• Provided financial support for establishing new Organ Transplant/retrieval facilities and strengthening of existing Organ Transplant/retrieval facilities.
• Provided training to transplant experts including surgeons, physicians, transplant coordinators, etc.
• Provided financial support for provision of Transplant Coordinators to medical colleges and trauma centres.

NOTTO disseminates relevant information to all concerned. A 24×7 callcentre with a toll free helpline number (1800114770) has been made operational. A number of activities, for generating awareness and for imparting training to all those associated with transplant activities including doctors and transplant coordinators, such as celebration of Indian Organ Donation Day every year, seminars, workshops, debates, sports events, walkathons, participation in marathons, nukkadNatak, etc. are organized at different places in the country. Audio-visual messages to promote cadaver organ donation are also telecast on Doordarshan and other television channels.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.