National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP)

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19-Jul-2022: Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994 provides for regulation of removal, storage and transplantation of human organs & tissues for therapeutic purposes

The Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994 provides for regulation of removal, storage and transplantation of human organs & tissues for therapeutic purposes and for prevention of commercial dealings in human organs & tissues. The subject of artificial organs is not regulated under the aforesaid Act.

As reported by Directorate General of Health Services, there has been an overall increase in lifestyle diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease in the past decade, which may cause organ damage. Once the end stage organ failure occurs, such cases may require organ transplants.

The Government of India has implemented National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP) to establish a network of organ and tissue transplant organizations at national, regional and state level and to link them with transplant & retrieval hospitals and tissue banks and to maintain a national registry of organ & tissue donors and recipients for the purpose to provide an efficient system for procurement and distribution of organs & tissues from deceased donors. Under the program, support is provided to establish new or to upgrade existing organ & tissue transplant and retrieval facilities and to establish tissue banks.

27-Jul-2021: National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP)

Under the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) a National Level Tissue Bank (Biomaterial Centre) for storing tissues has been established at National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), New Delhi. Further, under the NOTP, a provision has also been made for providing financial support to the States for setting up of Bio- material centre. As of now a Regional Bio-material centre has been established at Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO), Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Funds have also been released to the States of Bihar and Maharashtra for establishment of Bio-material Centre under NOTP.

The Government of India is implementing National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to promote organ donation and transplantation across all States/Union Territories (UTs)including Karnataka.  The provisions under the programme include:

  • Setting up of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTOs) in each State/UT.
  • Setting up of National/ Regional/State Bio-material centres.
  • Financial support for establishing new Organ Transplant/retrieval facilities and strengthening of existing Organ Transplant/retrieval facilities.
  • Training to transplant experts including surgeons, physicians, transplant coordinators, etc.
  • Financial support for hiring of Transplant Coordinators to medical colleges and trauma centres.
  • Post-transplant immune-suppressant drugs to Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients.

Under this programme, an apex level National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) at New Delhi and Five Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs) and fourteen SOTTOs have been established so far. Further, Regional Bio-material centre has been established at ROTTO, Tamil Nadu and funds have been released to the State of Bihar and Maharashtra for purpose.

The ‘National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)’, ‘Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs)’ and ‘State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs)’ disseminate relevant information about organ donation in the public. A website www.notto.gov.in and a 24x7 call centre with a toll free helpline number (1800114770) have been made operational. A number of activities, for generating awareness are carried out from time to time. These include seminars, workshops, debates, sports events, walkathons, participation in marathons, Nukkad Nataks, celebration of Indian Organ Donation Day, etc. Social media is also being deployed to create awareness about organ donation among the citizens.