Lok Sabha Question No. 1847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Lack of Autonomy in Organ Transplant policy
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1847 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th JULY, 2021

## LACK OF AUTNOMY IN ORGAN TRANSPLANT POLICY

## 1847: DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the number of  donors  have declined  post implementation  of an  organ  donation/transplant  policy  failing  to  give  autonomy  t States/UTs  in  th e  management  of  organ  donation/transplant, if so, the details thereof
- (b) whether  the  loss  of  autonomy  to  States/UTs under  the  current  policy stymied  the  growth  of organ donation/transplant thereby undermining the rapid gr achieved  so  far  by  States/UTs  particularly Tamil Nadu;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether    the    Government    has    received    any  proposal    to    give    autonomy States/UTs  to  establish the earlier policy; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken/being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e) The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 1994 (came into force after notif ication of Transplantation of Human Organs Amendment Act, 2011 on 10.01.2014) and  Transplantation  of  Human  Organs  and  Tissues  Rules  2014  (notified  on  27.03.2014 thereunder  define  the  organ  donation/transplant  policy.  The  Act  provides  for  Approp Authorities  for  each  State  to  be  appointed  by  the  respective  State  Government  fo purposes of the Act.

Health being a State subject and as per aforesaid provision, the implementation of th within the remit of the respective State Governments.

In addition,  under  the  aforesaid  Act,  the  Central  Government  is  required  to  establ National Human Organs and Tissues Removal and Storage Network at one or more places and establish a Regional Network as well as maintain a National Registry of the donor and recipients of human organs and tissues.

For  this  purpose,  a  networking  system  between  NOTTO  (National  Org an  and  Tissue Transplant  Organis ation)  at  national,  ROTTO  (Regional  Organ  and  Tissue  Transplant Organization) at regional and SOTTO (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization) at State level and Organ and Tissue Transplant and retrieval centres and tissue banks ha created. This facilitates a country wide efficient and transparent system of organ pro from deceased donors and thei r allocation to the potential recipients in the waiting list. The aim is to improve the utilization of donated organs and minimizing any wastage.

Further,  SOTTO  is  usually  located  in  a  State  medical  college  and  functions  in association with the State Government. The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules, 2014 provide the flexibility in the allocation criteria, which may be State finalized and determined by the State Government in consultation with the SOTTO.

Thus, vari ous provisions of the aforesaid Act and Rules strengthen the role of States/ Territories in the sphere of organ donation and organ transplant.

As  per  data  received  by  NOTTO  from  the  States/UTs,  total  number  of  deceased transplantation done in the co untry has increased from 4,990 in the year 2013 (i.e. befor notification of above mentioned Act and Rules) to 12,746 in the year 2019.