India Adopts ‘One Nation, One Policy’ for Organ Donation & Transplantation

The government aims to improve infrastructure and increase trained personnel for organ transplantation, especially in government institutions.

The Indian government has embraced the 'One Nation, One Policy' approach for organ donation and transplantation, initiating consultations with states to implement the policy nationwide.

This was announced by LS Changsan, Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Health, during a deliberation focused on reforms required to enhance organ and tissue donation and transplantation in India.

"Organ donation needs to become a way of life for us so that we can give a new lease of life to those suffering from organ failure," Changsan remarked, highlighting the critical need for a unified policy.

She emphasized the importance of promoting organ donation, particularly from deceased donors, to address the significant demand for organs in the country.

Changsan also noted that PM Narendra Modi has underscored the importance of organ donation during his Mann Ki Baat program, pointing out that one person donating organs after death can save up to eight lives.

The government is focused on enhancing infrastructure and increasing the availability of trained personnel for organ transplantation, particularly within government institutions.

Awareness Campaigns & Infrastructure Development

To further this mission, the Center has launched the Organ Donation Public Awareness Campaign, known as ‘Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan,’ which is currently being implemented across various states and institutions.

This initiative aims to educate the public about the importance of organ donation and encourage more people to become donors.

Dr Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), also spoke at the event, praising the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) for its leadership in this field.

He stressed the need to foster a culture of deceased donations, alongside the existing practice of live donations, in both government and private hospitals. "In our nation, we have a tradition of giving, rooted in altruism. We must extend this spirit to organ donation as well," Dr Goel said.

Chintan Shivir: A Platform for Reform & Innovation

The two-day Chintan Shivir in New Delhi serves as a platform to discuss ten key themes related to organ donation and transplantation, along with various sub-themes.

The objectives of this gathering are to explore necessary reforms for enhancing organ and tissue donation, discuss technological advancements that can improve donation and allocation processes, and propose recommendations for legislative reforms.

The deliberations aim to strengthen the existing legal framework governing organ donation and transplantation in India, ensuring that the country can meet the growing demand for life-saving organ transplants and provide a more efficient, transparent, and equitable system for all citizens.