The country ranks third highest globally in total organ transplantation, behind only the United States of America and China
- India is first in living donor organ transplantation.
About organ transplantation in India
- Organ transplantation is the life-saving therapy for end-stage organ failure.
- It refers to the grafting of any human organ from any living person or deceased person to some other living person for therapeutic purposes.
- Organ donation and transplantation is regulated by Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 1994 (amended in 2011)
- It was introduced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- This legislation aims to regulate the removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes while strictly prohibiting any commercial dealing.
- The National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP) aims to enhance access to transplants, improve awareness, and augment infrastructure.
- The programoperates through a network comprising
- National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO),
- Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs), and
- State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs).
- Despite this growth, India faces a low deceased organ donation rate of less than 1 per million population (Spain 48 per million population).
Initiatives taken for organ transplantation
- "One Nation One Policy": State domicile, age limits, and registration fees removed for deceased donor organ transplant recipients.
- Aadhaar-linked digital pledge portal: It was launched in September 2023, enabling over 3 lakh citizens to register their pledges for organ donation.
- "Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyan" was launched in 2024.
