Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) data reveals that between 1995 and 2021, four out of five organ recipients in India were men, highlighting a significant gender disparity in healthcare-seeking behavior.
What does the Data Show?
- The data suggests a disproportionately low number of women undergoing transplants, raising concerns about awareness and access to treatment for women in need.
- While studies show higher numbers of women donors, gender bias persists in both recipients and donors.
About National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation:
NOTTO operates under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in New Delhi. It oversees organ procurement, allotment, distribution, and registry of organs and tissue donation and transplantation in India.
About Organ Donation in India:
Despite being the world’s second-largest in transplants in 2019, India lags behind Western nations in donation rates due to factors like low public awareness, religious beliefs, and strict laws.
The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 regulates organ donation in India, allowing both deceased and living donors. Brain death is recognized as a form of death. The government launched the National Organ Transplant Programme in 2019 to promote deceased organ donation. Other law regulating transplantation in India is the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994
