Question : Cadaver Organ Transplantation

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the initiatives undertaken by the Government to create awareness about the importance of cadaver organ transplantation in the country;

(b) whether the Government has taken note of the success witnessed in several Indian States in cadaver organ donation programme and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the models implemented by the States are studied and analysed by the Government to extend the reach of the programme nationwide and to develop a national framework and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to establish a structured network of transplant centres and effect of recruitment of transplant in the country especially in eastern and northern India; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): The Government of India has taken a series of measures to promote cadaver organ donation. The Government is implementing the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to promote organ donation across the country. The website of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), viz. www.notto.nic.in contains information pertinent to the activities relating to organ donation. A 24x7 call centre with a toll free helpline number (1800114770) has been set up. Further, a number of activities are carried out throughout the year for generating awareness about cadaver organ donation and for imparting training to all those associated with transplant activities including doctors and transplant coordinators. Activities such as celebration of Indian organ donation day every year, seminars, workshops, debates, sports events, walkathons, participation in marathons, nukkad natak, etc. are also organized at different places in the country to disseminate information and increase awareness. Audio-visual messages to promote cadaver organ donation are also telecast on Doordarshan and other Television channels.
Contd……..

-2-
(b): Yes. The States of Tamil Nadu, Maharastra and Telangana were honoured and felicitated on Indian Organ Donation Day.
(c) to (e): Though health is a State subject, the Government of India has enacted Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (as amended in 2011) and rules made thereunder to regulate the removal, storage and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and to prevent commercial dealings in human organs. The Government of India is implementing the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to promote organ donation across the country. Further, to extend the reach of the NOTP, an apex level organization viz. National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has been set-up at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi for national networking, national registry, and distribution of donated Organs & Tissues from deceased persons. In addition, a National Biomaterial Centre has also been established at NOTTO. Five other Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (ROTTOs) have also been set up under NOTP.
Further, NOTP has provisions for establishment of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTO) in every State/UT, establishment of 10 Biomaterial Centres, financial assistance for developing new and strengthening the existing retrieval and transplant units in Government medical colleges of all States /UTs and support to retrieval (Non- Transplant Organ Retrieval Centres) /Transplant Centres for maintenance of cadavers.
………………..