Center issues norms for organ transport in India

• The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued a set of guidelines for the transportation of live human organs.

Highlights:

• The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, allows harvesting of organs from living donors or brain-dead patients with the consent of family members.
• Such organs are transported from one hospital to another, sometimes far away, by air or road depending on the location of eligible recipients registered with their respective transplant authorities.
• The transport protocols aim to ensure the expeditious movement of life-saving organs from the point of harvest to their destination through effective use of available infrastructure.
• All cases of organ transplants, whether from living or deceased donor, to be given unique NOTTO-ID
• The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued, will serve as a guiding document for healthcare institutions in States/Union Territories to transport organs by various modes of transport, including metro trains and over water.
• The instructions made it clear that human organs for transplant would be transported only within the territory of India and no organ shall be transported outside the country.
• Also, no human organ for transplant shall be allowed to be transported from outside the territory of India.
• To curb illegal trade, Health Ministry tells States to plug gaps in compiling data of organ donors
• A detailed set of guidelines were issued for the transport/transfer of organs by Ministry of Defence personnel and how road/air/water traffic control authorities should accord priority transit for the vehicle/aircraft/ships (fast craft) carrying live human organs for transplant.

Prelims Takeaway

• Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994