Written by:
Arthi T
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Organ transplantation is a critical medical procedure that saves countless lives each year. In India, government hospitals play a pivotal role in providing accessible and affordable transplant services to patients in need. These hospitals are equipped with advanced medical facilities and adhere to stringent protocols to ensure ethical and efficient organ allocation and transplantation.
Government hospitals across various states are integrated into a national network, ensuring a systematic and transparent process for organ donation and distribution. This network, supported by state and national agencies, aims to make organ transplantation accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status.
A person can donate the following organs after death or, in some cases, while still alive:
Lungs
Both lungs or a single lung can be donated by deceased donors, and a lobe of a lung can be donated by a living donor.
Kidneys
Both kidneys can be donated by a deceased donor, or one kidney by a living donor.
Liver
A deceased donor's liver can be split and transplanted into two recipients. A living donor can donate a portion of their liver.
Heart
Only from deceased donors, the heart must be transplanted within 4-6 hours of retrieval.
Pancrea
Can be donated by both deceased and living donors.
Intestine
Primarily donated by deceased donors, but a portion can be donated by a living donor.
Tissue
Including corneas, skin, bones, ligaments, and heart valves.
Pancrea
Can be donated by both deceased and living donors.
Intestine
Primarily donated by deceased donors, but a portion can be donated by a living donor.
Tissue
Including corneas, skin, bones, ligaments, and heart valves.
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Types of organ donation processes
Living donation process:
A living donor must undergo medical tests and evaluations to ensure compatibility with the recipient. Once confirmed by a doctor, the donor’s organs are surgically retrieved and temporarily stored in special solutions until transplantation. Afterward, the donor stays under medical care for a few days or weeks until recovery.
Deceased donation process:
A deceased donor, often someone who has suffered a fatal head injury or brain hemorrhage, is declared brain dead by medical experts. With the family’s consent, the donor remains on life support until organs can be retrieved. Suitable recipients from a waiting list are notified to reach their hospitals. After organ retrieval, the donor’s body is respectfully returned to the family.
Organ allocation process in India
Health is managed at the state level in India, with each state having its own Nodal Agency responsible for the allocation of human organs.
These agencies connect with all transplant hospitals within the state.
Each hospital must have a website linked to the State Nodal Agency to ensure their waiting lists are integrated into the state’s system.
Each State Nodal Agency is linked to the Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO), which in turn connects to the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), forming a cohesive National Waiting-List Registry.
When a brain stem death occurs and the family consents to organ donation, the hospital informs its Nodal Officer about the death and the family's consent.
For paired organs such as kidneys and lungs, the hospital retains one organ for its patients on the waiting list while the other is placed in a common pool, allocated by the Nodal Agency to patients in other hospitals.
For organs like the heart, liver, intestines, and pancreas, the donor hospital can use these if they are registered to perform these transplants and have patients on the waiting list.
If not, these organs go into the common pool for allocation by the Nodal Agency.
It is uncommon for all organs to be used by the same hospital, and they are usually allocated according to the pool.
According to government policy, if organs are retrieved from a government hospital and added to the common pool, they are first offered to other government hospitals. If no suitable recipient is found, they are then offered to private hospitals. Conversely, if organs are retrieved from a private hospital, they are first offered to other private hospitals.
In cases of inter-state organ allocation, both the concerned ROTTO and NOTTO are informed to oversee the process. More details on policies and procedures can be found on the NOTTO website.
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Government hospitals offering organ transplants
Kidney Transplants
1. Delhi
2. Tamil Nadu
Liver transplants
1. Delhi
2. Tamil Nadu
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Bone marrow transplant
1. Delhi
2. Tamil Nadu
Heart transplant
1. Delhi
2. Tamil Nadu
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Lung transplant
1. Delhi
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Maharashtra
4. Karnataka
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