GS2 – Governance
Context:
India has emerged as the third-largest country in terms of organ transplants, as acknowledged by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) during the 15th Organ Donation Day held in New Delhi.
Overview of Organ Transplantation
- Definition: Organ transplantation is the surgical replacement of a dysfunctional organ with a healthy one from either a living or deceased donor.
Legal and Institutional Framework
- Regulatory Law: The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994 governs organ donation and prohibits commercial dealings.
- Recent Reforms (2023):
- Removal of the upper age limit for deceased donor registration.
- Elimination of state domicile requirements to improve accessibility.
- National Programme:
The National Organ Transplant Programme, spearheaded by MoHFW, promotes organ donation through a unified national coordination network. - Apex Body:
The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) develops standard operating procedures, maintains national registries, and frames transplant-related policy guidelines.
Challenges in Organ Donation
- Low Deceased Donation Rate: India has fewer than 1 deceased donor per million population, much below the global average of 10.
- Public Misconceptions: Myths, stigma, and lack of awareness hinder voluntary donor registration.
- Infrastructure Imbalance: Transplant facilities are concentrated in urban areas, with rural regions facing neglect.
- Regional Disparities: Southern states lead in donations, while the northern and northeastern states remain underrepresented.
- Human Resource Deficit: Shortage of trained medical professionals and transplant coordinators impacts service delivery.
- Ethical Dilemmas: Incidences of coercion and trafficking undermine public confidence.
Recent Government Initiatives
- One Nation, One Policy (2024):
Introduced to bring uniformity in age limits, domicile criteria, and registration charges across states. - Aadhaar-Linked Digital Pledge Portal (2023):
Enables individuals to pledge organ donation digitally through Aadhaar verification. - Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyan (2024):
A nation-wide campaign aimed at increasing awareness and debunking societal myths surrounding organ donation.