Source: TH
Context: The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has issued a direction giving priority in organ allocation to women patients and female relatives of deceased donors, addressing long-standing gender disparity.
About National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)
What it is?
- Apex government body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Functions as the national coordination centre for organ and tissue donation/transplantation.
Headquarters: Located on the Institute of Pathology (ICMR) Building, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.
Aim:
- To coordinate, regulate, and promote organ and tissue donation and transplantation in India.
- Facilitate the safe and efficient allocation and utilization of organs and tissues.
Established in
- Formed in 2014, under the mandate of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (amended 2011).
Chaired by
- Operates under the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), MoHFW.
- National Network Division – maintains a central registry of donors and recipients.
- National Biomaterial Centre – tissue banking for corneas, bones, skin, etc.
- Coordination with ROTTOs & SOTTOs – Regional and State-level bodies.
- Maintain national database of organ and tissue donations.
- Ensure transparent allocation through waiting lists.
- Issue guidelines & protocols for ethical transplantation.
- Train transplant coordinators & medical staff.
- Run awareness campaigns to increase voluntary donation.
- Support hospitals in setting up retrieval centres and trauma-linked donor facilities.
- Monitor compliance with THOA, 1994 to prevent organ trafficking or commercial trade.
