All cases of organ transplants, whether from a living or deceased donor, will be allocated a unique National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)-ID for both the donor and the recipient. It must be generated by the hospital from the NOTTO website (www.notto.mohfw.gov.in). The Union Health Ministry has issued the directive to eliminate commercial dealing in organs, especially those involving foreign citizens.
The latest order, issued to all States and Union Territories, comes following reports of malpractice and a surge in the number of organ transplants related to foreigners in the country, the Ministry said. It has also called for stricter monitoring of such transplants by the local authorities.
In its communication earlier this month, the Ministry had said that the Appropriate Authority of the State, appointed according to the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994 should investigate transplants in respect of foreign nationals in the State, apart from any complaint concerning the breach of any provision or rule of the Act, with appropriate action to be taken whenever such violations come to light.
