Lok Sabha Question No. 269 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Prevalence of Organ Trafficking
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 269 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST JULY, 2023

## PREVALENCE OF ORGAN TRAFFICKING

## 269. DR. PON GAUTHAM SIGAMANI:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that organ trafficking is on the rise/increasing across the country;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has issued a warning against private websites and social media posts promoting and offering organs for trade;
- (c) whether NOTTO has written to the States and Union Territories seeking strict monitoring thereof along with the steps proposed to prevent organ trafficking and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (d) the total number of cases that have come to the notice of NOTTO since the Act came into force in the year 1994 to prevent organ trafficking and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by NOTTO to ensure that its rules and guidelines do not cause genuine cases to suffer or get delayed?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (PROF. SATYA PAL SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) to (e) Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 provides for an appropriate authority to be appointed by every state for investigating any complaint or breach of any of the provisions of this act or any of the rules there under. Health and law & order are state subjects. Thus, it is primarily the responsibility of the States and UTs to take actions for prevention and control of organ trafficking and monitor the same. It has come to the notice recently that certain websites and social media posts are promoting and offering organ trading which is in gross violation of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994. In this regard, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has written a letter to all the States & UTs on 26.06.2023. Whenever any complaint regarding organ trafficking is received in this ministry, the same is referred to the concerned state for appropriate action. The data in this regard is not maintained centrally by the ministry.

NOTTO along with Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (ROTTOs), State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTOs) and other institutions organize awareness programs across the country to disseminate information about provisions of The Human Organs and Tissues Act and rules, so that people are cognizant towards the Government recognized process of organ donation permitted by the law, along with the illegality and repercussions associated with indulgence in organ trafficking, in order to make it easy for them to comply with the provisions of law. More specifically, ROTTO North, which covers northern states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana has devised the following strategy to increase awareness in this regard:

-  Social Media campaigns through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook posts and Google alerts
-  Collaboration with administration to issue ads in public interest
-  Information sharing through print media and FM/AIR
-  Infotainment sessions and street plays
-  Slides and tickers on LED screens in all the OPDs

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