Parliament Question: Challenges in organ donation and transplantation

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3628 TO BE ANSWERED ON24THMARCH, 2026 CHALLENGES INORGAN DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION 3628 SMT.SUDHAMURTY: Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate: (a) whether Government has reviewed the current challenges in organ donation, including inequitiesinaccess, gapsinawareness, andcapacityconstraints across regions; (b) whether any steps are being taken to strengthen data systems and registries to improve transparency, monitoringandcoordinationinorgan donationandtransplantation; (c) the measures proposed to expand infrastructure, trained manpower and institutional capacitytoimprove donationrates, particularlyinunderserved regions; and (d) whether any initiatives are being undertaken to enhance public awareness and encourage voluntaryorgan donationtobridge the gapbetweendemandandavailability of organs? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India is implementing the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) for enhancing awareness on deceased organ donation, augmenting institutional capacity for organ donation and transplantation especially in public sector and promoting equitable access to organ transplantation services across regions. Regular meetings/webinars/workshops are organized with the States, Professional Organizations, NGOs, Institutions and other stake-holders etc. to assess the existing situation inorgan donationandtoidentifypriority areasfor intervention (b) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India hasoperationalized National OrganandTissueTransplantRegistry throughweb portal(www.notto.mohfw.gov.in) since the year2015. National, Regional and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (NOTTO, ROTTOs and SOTTOs) along with Organ Transplant/Retrieval hospitals, Tissue centres and Tissue Banks have been linked with the national registry to improve transparency, monitoring and coordinationinorgan donationandtransplantation.(c) Under the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP),with aim toimprove organ donationrates andaccess toorgantransplantation services across the country,financial grants are provided to States and Union Territories, based on proposals, for strengthening institutional mechanisms (ROTTOs and SOTTOs), augmentation of infrastructure for organ transplant and retrieval centres and tissue banks, hiring of transplant coordinators, training andcapacitybuilding andawareness activities. In addition, training of transplant surgeons, physicians, anaesthetists, intensivists, nurses, transplant coordinators, and programme officers, along with skill development programmes at identifiedinstitutions andmedicalcollegesare carriedout from time totime. (d) NOTTO along with Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs) and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) carries out awareness programs across the country todisseminate information to promote organ and tissue donation engagingwith variousstakeholders. Variousawareness activitieslike transplant games, poster making, slogan writing, special pledge campaigns are organized regularly. The NOTTO website www.notto.mohfw.gov.in disseminates information about organ and tissue donation including display of IEC Materials. Also, a 24x7 call centre having a toll-free helpline number (1800114770) isfunctional to provide information, tele-counselling and coordination for organ donation. Dissemination of messages through social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Channelsof NOTTO) isbeingdone onday-to-daybasis. To facilitate citizens to pledge for organ and tissue donation, a dedicated web portal https://notto.abdm.gov.in is functional through which till now more than 4.8 lakh Aadhaar verifiedpledgeshave been registered since 17thSeptember, 2023. *****