New Delhi (NVI): India performs the second largest number of transplants in the world, next only to USA, as per the data available on the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said.
However, despite the achievement of being second to USA in the number of transplants, a huge gap still exists between those requiring transplants and the actual number of organs available for transplant from deceased donors, Dr Vardhan said, adding “India has a dismal 0.65 per million population (PMP) Organ Donation Rate and we need to improve this”.
The Minister was speaking at a function here today to celebrate 10th Indian Organ Donation Day. Dr Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Union Minister of State (HFW) and Dr. C.Vijayabaskar, Health Minister, Tamil Nadu were also present on the occasion.
At the function organised by National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), Dr Vardhan and other ministers also felicitated several families of organ donors.
Dr Harsh Vardhan urged NGOs, CSOs, non-state stakeholders, community and religious leaders and opinion influencers within communities to become ambassadors of organ donation and enthuse and inspire people regarding this noble act. “Let Medical Colleges take a lead in this movement. Let us have national and regional events where we create massive awareness drives for organ donation”, he stated.
Shri. Ashwini K Choubey addressed the gathering by saying that organ donation is the biggest act of humanity and kindness. Urging people to come forward for organ donation, he said that while the body is mortal, the soul is immortal- through the selfless act of organ donation, we can continue to live through the recipients of the donated organs. He stated that organ donation is “maha daan and maha kalyan”.
Government of India has set up the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) as a mandate of the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act 2011, for carrying out the activities for promotion of organ donation from deceased persons, putting systems in place for organ donation and transplantation and training the needed manpower etc.
NOTTO is performing the functions of the National Human Organs & Tissues Removal and Storage Network as specified by the Act. Networking among hospitals and tissue banks is set up through NOTTO at national level / ROTTO at regional level / SOTTO at State level for procurement and sharing of organs obtained from the deceased donors and allocation of procured organs is done by the SOTTOs, ROTTOs & NOTTO.
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