The centre intends to develop ‘One Nation, One Organ Allocation’ policy in order to abolish the domicile requirement in organ transplantation and transportation.
The Centre has decided to eliminate the domicile requirement, and all states have been notified. A needy person can now go to any state in the country and register for getting an organ as well as a transplant. Previously, the state’s organ donation policy required the needy person’s residence to make the donation, according to a Health Ministry source.
According to the source, the Centre has decided to remove a clause from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization guidelines because it violates the Right to Life. And now an individual of any age can register for an organ transplant.
Abolish this age limit
According to the guidelines, people over the age of 65 are not eligible to receive organs or register for organ donation. However, the Centre has decided to remove this age restriction. According to the source, anyone of any age can now register to receive an organ transplant.
On January 9, the Indian government held a consultative meeting with all states to implement this policy. Doctors also advised the government last September to push for mandatory deceased organ donation.
“We’re introducing a chapter in the school curriculum to raise awareness about organ donation,” sources said.
Total organ transplants increased more than three times from 4,990 in 2013 to 15,561 in 2022, according to data obtained from the Health Ministry. The majority of the 15,561 transplants — 12,791 (82%) — are living organ transplants, with 2,765 (18%) being deceased organ or cadaver transplants.
