India to release manual for organ donation

Subject :Schemes

Concept :

From standardising the course for transplant coordinators to developing a manual for setting up an organ transplant programme at a hospital, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is working towards structural reforms to improve organ donation and transplant in the country.
The organisation has been working towards standardising processes for registering to receive organs and the allocation of organs across the country, with a call for a “one nation, one policy”.
The government recently granted special casual leave of up to 42 days to central government employees who donate organs.

About NOTTO

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is set up under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, located in New Delhi.
Organ donation in India is regulated by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.

About National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP):

National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) aims to promote organ donation and transplantation across all States/Union Territories (UTs).
Implementing Agency: Directorate General of Health Services(DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing the National Organ Transplant Programme.

Objectives of the Programme:

To organize a system of organ and tissue procurement & distribution for transplantation.
To promote deceased organ and Tissue donation.
Furthermore, to train required manpower.
Also, to protect vulnerable poor from organ trafficking.
Lastly, to monitor organ and tissue transplant services and bring about policy and programme corrections/ changes whenever needed.

Key Features of the Programme:

The key activities under the programme include:
Setting up of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTOs) in each State/UT.
Setting up of National/ Regional/State Bio-material centres.
Financial support for establishing new Organ Transplant/retrieval facilities and strengthening of existing Organ Transplant/retrieval facilities.
Training to transplant experts including surgeons, physicians, transplant coordinators, etc.
Financial support for the hiring of Transplant Coordinators to medical colleges and trauma centres.
Post-transplant immune-suppressant drugs to Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients.

Nodal Centre:

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has been set up as the apex center for all Indian activities of coordination and networking for procurement and distribution of organs and tissues and registry of Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation in the country.