Supreme Court Urges Uniform Policy for Organ Transplantation

Organ Transplantation in India

Supreme Court Urges Uniform Policy for Organ Transplantation: Organ transplantation is a surgical procedure where a failing or damaged organ is replaced with a healthy organ from a donor. It remains a critical intervention for patients with end-stage organ failure. Static GK fact: The first successful organ transplant in India was a kidney transplant performed in 1971.

The Supreme Court (SC) recently directed the Centre to formulate a Uniform National Policy for organ transplantation. The decision was prompted by delays caused due to the absence of a consolidated national database for donors and recipients.

Static GK Tip: India has over 30,000 patients awaiting organ transplants every year, but only a fraction receive timely organs.

Key Directives from the Supreme Court

The SC highlighted several important measures to improve organ transplantation efficiency:

Uniform National Policy

The SC instructed the Centre to develop a model allocation criteria that mitigates gender and caste bias and ends state-wise discrepancies. This aims to ensure fair and transparent organ allocation across India.

State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations

States like Manipur, Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep currently lack a State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTO). The SC directed the Centre to establish these bodies under the National Organ Transplantation Programme (NOTP) after consulting respective state governments.

Static GK fact: NOTP operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and coordinates organ procurement and distribution nationwide.

Guidelines for Live Donors

The Court emphasized evolving guidelines for the welfare of live donors, ensuring post-donation care, and preventing commercialisation or exploitation. This is crucial for ethical organ donation practices. Static GK Tip: Live donor transplants account for over 80% of kidney transplants in India.

Amendments in Death Registration

The SC advised amendments in death registration forms, in consultation with NOTTO, to record whether the deceased’s family was offered the option to donate organs. This will strengthen deceased donor programs across the country.

Legal and Institutional Framework

The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 1994, amended in 2011, forms the legal backbone for organ donation and transplantation in India. NOTTO serves as the national coordinating body, while SOTOs function at the state level. Static GK fact: NOTTO maintains a centralized registry for organ donation and ensures equitable organ allocation.

The National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP) facilitates efficient organ and tissue procurement and retrieval, especially from deceased donors, ensuring timely transplantation and improving survival rates.

Static GK Tip: India performs around 6,000 organ transplants annually, with kidneys being the most commonly transplanted organ.

Challenges and Way Forward

Despite institutional mechanisms, state-wise discrepancies and limited awareness about organ donation persist. The SC directives aim to unify policies, strengthen state bodies, and protect both donors and recipients. This can enhance transplant efficiency, reduce waiting times, and save thousands of lives annually.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

Supreme Court Urges Uniform Policy for Organ Transplantation: