Health Ministry asks States to ensure permanent organ transplant coordinators

Health Ministry asks States to ensure permanent organ transplant coordinators

Sub : Schemes

Sec : Sci

Context:

• The Union Health Ministry has issued a warning to states and institutions operating without regular transplant coordinators.
• It has stated that requests for support in this area will not be entertained beyond the financial year 2024-25 from States and institutions that have exceeded the five-year support period.

National Organ Transplant Programme:

• Under the current National Organ Transplant Programme, which runs from 2020-21 to 2025-26, there are provisions to support government medical colleges with two transplant coordinators and a trauma centre, while private medical colleges performing well can receive support for one transplant coordinator.
• The commitment for transplant coordinator positions is set for five years. During this time, state governments and medical colleges are expected to establish permanent positions.
• However, the Health Ministry noted a lack of significant progress in creating these roles.

Role of Transplant Coordinators:

• The transplant coordinator plays a critical role in coordinating the entire process of deceased organ donation and transplantation. Their responsibilities include:
  • Coordinating brain stem death identification and certification.
  • Providing grief counselling to families.
  • Encouraging family members to consider organ donation.
  • Obtaining consent for donation.
  • Managing logistics related to organ retrieval and transplantation.

Legal Framework:

• Organ donation in India is regulated by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA).
• According to this act, hospitals must appoint a transplant coordinator with the required qualifications and experience to be registered for transplantation procedures.
• The Ministry has reiterated that having a transplant coordinator is a legal requirement for hospitals involved in transplantation or organ retrieval.
• States and institutions are now instructed to take necessary steps to create permanent posts for transplant coordinators by the next financial year.

Organ transplant in India:

• India faces an acute shortage of organs for transplants.
• India currently has about 750 institutions providing organ transplant services.