This document summarizes the Indian government's response to concerns regarding infrastructure deficiencies for organ transplantation in government hospitals. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare acknowledges the lack of specialized transplant operation theaters and ICUs in some public hospitals, but emphasizes that health is a state subject, making state governments primarily responsible for providing organ transplantation facilities and services.
The central government addresses this issue through the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (THOTA) and the National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP). THOTA established a three-tiered National Human Organs and Tissues Removal and Storage Network: the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) at the national level, Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs) at the regional level, and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) at the state level. NOTTO serves as the apex body for coordination, networking, and registry of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
The NOTP, a Central Sector Programme, aims to improve access to organ transplantation by increasing awareness of deceased organ donation, improving organ procurement and distribution, augmenting infrastructure in the public sector, and providing manpower training. The program encourages states to identify gaps and strengthen their transplantation programs, with the option to seek assistance from the central government through the NOTP. Grants are available to states for establishing ROTTOs and SOTTOs, improving infrastructure (including transplant operation theaters and ICUs), and setting up Organ Transplant Retrieval Centers and Tissue Banks. Funding is contingent on proposals received from state governments.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994: An Indian law regulating organ transplantation.
National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO): The apex body in India for coordination, networking, and registry of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTO): Regional organizations involved in organ and tissue transplantation within India.
State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTO): State-level organizations involved in organ and tissue transplantation within India.
National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP): A Central Sector Programme of Government of India to improve access to organ transplantation.
SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
State Government: State governments in India, responsible for providing health facilities and services for organ transplantation in their respective states.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1023
TO BE ANSWERED ON25THJULY, 2025
INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIENCIES IN GOVERNMENTHOSPITALS FOR
ORGAN TRANSPLANTS
1023. DR. M PABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that a recent report by the Ministry has highlighted the lack of
specialised transplant operation theatres and ICUs in many Government hospitals across the
country;
(b) if so, the steps being taken to establish dedicated infrastructure for organ retrieval and
transplantationacross all majorpublic hospitals inthe country;
(c)whether anytime-boundaction planhasbeenpreparedinthisregard; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (d): Health being a State subject, it is the primary responsibility of State Government
to provide required facilities and services for organ transplantation in the State. As per the
Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (THOTA), Ministry of Health and
FamilyWelfare, Government of India,hasestablished a three tieredNational Human Organs
and Tissues Removal and Storage Network, consisting of National Organ and Tissue
Transplant Organization (NOTTO), Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations
(ROTTO)andState OrganandTissue Transplant Organizations(SOTTO).
NOTTO is the apex body for coordination, networking and registry of organ and tissue
donation and transplantation in India. The National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP) is a
Central Sector Programme of Government of India, which aims to improve access to organ
transplantation for needy citizens of the country by increasing awareness on deceased organ
donation,efficientmechanismfororganprocurementandtheirdistributionfortransplantation,augmentationof infrastructure inpublic sector,training of manpower,etc.
States are encouraged to identify gaps and to take proactive actions to further strengthen the
transplantation programme at State level. States may seek necessary assistance from the
Centre through NOTP. Under NOTP, grants are provided to States depending upon the
proposals received, for establishing ROTTOs and SOTTOs, augmenting infrastructure
including transplant operation theatres and ICUs in public sector for setting up Organ
Transplant/Retrieval CentersandTissue Banks, etc.
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