Lok Sabha Question No. 2225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: National Bio-Material Centre
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Darshana Vikram Jardosh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUE STION NO. 2225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD SEPTEMBER, 2020

## NATIONAL BIO - MATERIAL CENTRE

## 2225. SHRIMATI DARSH ANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

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

(a)  the  present  status  of  setting  up  a  National  Biomaterial Centre  (National  Tissue  Bank)  at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi;

(b)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  coordination with States/UTs  to  increase  social awarenessfor donation of human organs;

(c) whether the Government would encourage setting up of Human Organ Banks in each State and wouldmake provision of funds therefor, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Minis try would approach Ministry of HRD and States/UTs to introduce a chapter on  organdonation  in  school  and  college  curriculum,  if  so,  the details thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WEL FARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) National Biomaterial Centre has been established at National Organ and Tissue Transp Organisation  (NOTTO),  Safdarjung  Hospital,  New  Delhi,  an  organisation u der  Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India an fully functional.

(b) The Government of India is implementing National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to promote organ donation across the country. Under this programme, an apex level National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) at New Delhi and Five Regional Organ and Tissue  Transplant  Organizations  (ROTTOs)  at  Chandigarh,  Mumbai,  Che nnai,  Kolkata  and Guwahati have been set up. Further, State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTT have been established in twelve States. T he Government has taken several steps for promoting organ donation through various means of communicat ion viz, setting up a website of NOTTO, (www.notto.gov.in) which  contains  information  on  awareness  and  other  activities  relating organ donation and a 24x7 call centre with a toll free helpline number 1800114770. Be NOTTO, 'Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations  (ROTTOs)'  and  'State  Organ and  Tissue  Transplant  Organisations  (SOTTOs)'also  carry  out  Information,  Education  and Communication (IEC) activities such as celebration of Indian Organ Donation Day, semina workshops,  debates,  post er  competitions,  walkathons,  organ  donation  pledging  campaigns, putting up display boards outside Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and other strategic locatio transplant/retrieval hospitals etc.Such activities are organized in different places in t ountry to disseminate  information  and  increase  awareness  on  organ  donation.  Awareness  messages  a also  disseminated  through  audio  visuals,  print  and  social  media  from  time  to  time  b aforesaid organisations.

(c) There is no such proposal to set up N ational Human Organ Donation Bank as organs like Heart, Kidney, etc. need to be transplanted immediately after retrieval. However, the N Organ  and  Tissue  Transplant  Organisation  (NOTTO)  has  a  facility  of  National  Level  Tis Bank (Biomaterial Centr e) for storing tissues. Under the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP), a provision has been made for providing financial support to the States for setti Bio-material centre. As of now a Regional Bio -material centre has been established at R egional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO), Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Further, funds hav been released to the State of Bihar and Maharashtra for establishment of Bio - material Centre under NOTP.

(d) While,  no  such  proposal  is  under  consideratio n  of  the  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family Welfare at present, the Government is making all possible efforts to enhance awareness am all sections of society including school children and college students about the impor organ donation. A number of activities are organized for school and college students every y by NOTTO/ROTTOs and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTOs).