Source: THE HINDU
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Context:
- The Standard Operating Procedure lists guidelines for the transportation of live human organs from the point of their harvest to their destination, by various modes of transport.
Details
- For the first time, there are specific guidelines for transporting live human organs.
- These rules ensure that life-saving organs are moved quickly and safely from the donor to the recipient.
- The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, allows organs to be harvested from living donors or brain-dead patients with family consent.
- Organs are transported by air or road, depending on where the recipient is located.
Introduction
- Organ transplantation is a crucial part of medical care in India. It involves strict rules to ensure safety and fairness. Recently, the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN) issued new guidelines for hospitals to follow after the COVID-19 lockdown.
Key Guidelines from TRANSTAN
- Separate Facilities: Hospitals that treat COVID-19 patients and perform organ transplants must have different wards and operating rooms to prevent infections. Separate paths for doctors and staff treating COVID-19 patients and those involved in transplants are also necessary.
- Periodic Health Checks: Everyone involved in transplant surgeries must have regular health checks to ensure they are not carrying infections. This follows the guidelines from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
Transportation of Organs
- The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued guidelines for transporting live human organs. These rules help move organs quickly from the donor to the recipient using available infrastructure.
National Framework for Organ Transplantation
- India's organ transplant procedures are regulated by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), established in 1994 and amended in 2011.
About Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994:
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THOTA, 1994
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- Objective: Regulation of removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs & tissues for therapeutic purposes.
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- Purpose: Prevention of commercial dealings in human organs & tissues.
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- Exclusion: The subject of artificial organs is not regulated under this Act.
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Increase in Lifestyle Diseases
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- Reported by: Directorate General of Health Services.
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- Diseases: Increase in Diabetes, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease over the past decade.
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- Impact: These diseases may cause organ damage, and end-stage organ failure may require organ transplants.
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National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP)
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- Implemented by: Government of India.
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- Objective: Establish a network of organ and tissue transplant organizations at national, regional, and state levels.
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Network Establishment
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- Components: Transplant & retrieval hospitals, tissue banks.
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- Linking: National, regional, and state-level organizations linked to transplant & retrieval hospitals and tissue banks.
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National Registry
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- Purpose: Maintain a national registry of organ & tissue donors and recipients.
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- Function: Provide an efficient system for procurement and distribution of organs & tissues from deceased donors.
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Program Support
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- Objective: Support the establishment of new or upgrade existing organ & tissue transplant and retrieval facilities.
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- Facilities: Establishment of tissue banks.
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Key Provisions
- Authorization & Registration: Organs can only be transplanted in registered hospitals that meet specific standards.
- Consent and Donor Eligibility: Donors must give informed consent after understanding the risks. For deceased donors, family consent is needed.
- Ethical Committees: Hospitals must have a committee to approve each transplant, ensuring ethical practices.
- Brain Death Certification: Before organs are taken from deceased donors, brain death must be certified by a panel of four doctors.
- Transparency and Equitable Distribution: A centralized registry ensures fair and transparent organ distribution based on medical condition, urgency, and waiting time.
COVID-19 Considerations
- The pandemic made organ transplantation more complicated. TRANSTAN's new guidelines aim to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission among patients and healthcare workers involved in transplants.
About TRANSTAN
- Tamil Nadu is one of the first states to initiate Cadaver Transplant in 1995, following the passage of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act in 1994.
- The Cadaver Transplant Program was launched by the then Hon’ble Chief Minister Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi in 2008.
- In May 2015, the Cadaver Transplant Programme became a government society named the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN), under the chairmanship of the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Organization Structure of TRANSTAN
Composition of the General Body
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S.No
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Composition
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Designation
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1
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Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
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President
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2
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Minister for Finance
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Member
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3
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Minister for Health
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Member
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4
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Secretary to Government, Medical and Family Welfare Department, Tamil Nadu
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Member
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5
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Special Secretary or Joint Secretary to Government Medical and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu
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Member
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6
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Principal Secretary to Government Finance Department, Tamil Nadu
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Member
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Management Unit of TRANSTAN
- Chief Executive: The Member Secretary of TRANSTAN is the Chief Executive, responsible for day-to-day administration and financial management.
- Composition: The Management Unit comprises specialists and staff from government departments and NGOs.
- Functions: Managed under the supervision, guidance, and control of the Member Secretary.
Functions of TRANSTAN
- Establishing and managing cadaver transplant programs.
- Ensuring ethical practices and transparent processes.
- Coordinating with hospitals, NGOs, and government bodies.
- Overseeing the implementation of the CMCHIS scheme.
Conclusion
- Following these strict rules ensures that organ transplantation in India is safe, ethical, and efficient. The new guidelines are even more important after COVID-19 to protect both recipients and medical staff.
Source:
https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_international/issues/94125/OPS/GQ9D5P2FL.1.png?cropFromPage=true
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PRACTICE QUESTION
Q. What are the ethical, legal, and social implications of organ transplantation in India. Discuss the challenges posed by the acute shortage of organs and examine the effectiveness of government policies and initiatives in promoting organ donation and transplantation.
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