Question : Awareness Programmes on Organ Donation

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

(a) whether the Government is operating any Scheme/programme in different States/UTs of the country to create organ Donation awareness among people;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the list of awareness programmes conducted in the country during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise along with the details of funds provided for these awareness programmes;

(c) the total number of national organ and tissue transplantation hospitals in the country both in public and private sectors, as on date State/UT-wise; and

(d) whether the Government has launched/proposes to launch a programme to ‘recognise and honour’ families of persons who donate their organs and give more autonomy to National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) & (b): The Government is implementing the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to promote organ donation across the country. The Government of India has taken a series of measures to promote cadaver organ donation. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has a Website that disseminates relevant information to all concerned, a 24x7 call centre with a toll free helpline number (1800114770) has been made operational.

Various awareness programmes and activities are undertaken at various levels i.e National, Regional, State and institutional level for generating awareness 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.

The details of all programmes and activities during the last three years and the current year, State/UT wise are not available, as they are not maintained centrally. However, more than 500 awareness activities which include workshops, audio visuals presentations, training programmes, talks, rallies, pamphlet distribution, lectures, debates, walkathons, marathons, etc. have been carried out at NOTTO/ROTTO/SOTTO levels.

The funds allocated under NOTP for Advertising and Publicity during last three years and during the current year is as under:

Financial Year Fund Allocation under Advertising and Publicity (In Lakhs of Rs.)
2015-16 100
2016-17 300
2017-18 200
2018-19 1500

(c): National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) registers hospitals for the purpose of networking. As per the information available with NOTTO, the organ and tissue transplantation hospitals in the country both in public and private sectors, as on date State/UT-wise is at annexure.

(d): Government felicitates some of the donor families during Indian Organ Donation Day to recognize and honour such families. Similar facilitations are carried out by various States/UTs also. At present there is no proposal under consideration to give more autonomy to NOTTO.