INVC NEWS
New Delhi ,
Far sighted structural changes are in the offing to reform the organ donation and organ transplant sector, and the Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has given directions to this effect. As the world grapples with the ongoing pandemic, the need for organ donation has never been more pressing. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has called upon the countrymen to come forward for the noble cause of organ donation for saving lives of fellow human beings. In this article, we will discuss the current status of organ donation and transplant in India and the measures being taken to improve the situation.
The Current Status of Organ Donation and Transplant in India
The number of total organ transplants in the country has substantially increased from less than 5000 in the year 2013 to more than 15000 in the year 2022. However, despite the increase, the demand for organs far outweighs the supply. In India, only 1 in 30 people who need an organ transplant receive one, and around 500,000 people die each year due to non-availability of organs. There is a dire need to increase awareness about organ donation and to streamline the process of donation and transplant.
Coordination through the Network of Organ & Tissues Transplant Organizations
The network of Organ & Tissues Transplant Organizations at National (NOTTO), Regional (ROTTO) and State level (SOTTO) is playing a vital role in increasing the number of organs being utilized from deceased donors. Due to better coordination through this network, more organs per deceased donor are being utilized. For instance, in the year 2016, 2265 organs were utilized from 930 deceased donors while 2765 could be utilized from 904 deceased donors in the year 2022.
Transplant Manual and Standard Course for Training of Transplant Coordinators
NOTTO is working on a Transplant Manual as a step by step guide for implementation of Organ Donation and Transplantation Progamme in the Hospitals and also on a Standard Course for training of Transplant Coordinators. Both these documents will be completed and released shortly. The manual will provide detailed guidelines for hospitals on how to establish and run a transplant program. The Standard Course for training of Transplant Coordinators will help to improve the coordination and communication between hospitals, organ procurement organizations, and transplant centers.
Verticals for Coordination, IEC, Training and HR/accounts
Four verticals for coordination, IEC, Training and HR/accounts have been created in the NOTTO for better implementation of the programme. The coordination vertical will work towards improving the coordination between the different levels of NOTTO. The IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) vertical will work towards increasing awareness about organ donation and transplant. The training vertical will be responsible for training of transplant coordinators and other healthcare professionals. The HR/accounts vertical will be responsible for managing the human resources and accounts of NOTTO.
Special Casual Leaves for Central Govt. Employees
Recently, the Government of India has granted Special Casual Leaves of up to 42 days to Central Government Employees who donate an organ to another human being as a special welfare measure in public interest. This is a commendable step towards encouraging organ donation and transplant.
Imbibing Learnings from International Best Practices
Under the guidance of the Union Health Minister, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is also imbibing learnings from international best practices for further policy reforms towards augmentation of organ donation and transplantation in the country. This will help in creating a more organized, efficient, and transparent system for organ donation and transplant.
