0
0
New Delhi, – Smt. Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, addressed the 14th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) ceremony today, underscoring the collective responsibility required to enhance organ donation and transplantation in India. The event, organized by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), brought together key stakeholders, including Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog.
In her keynote address, Smt. Patel emphasized that “it is only through the concerted efforts of every individual and institution that India can realize its vision of becoming one of the leading countries in organ donation and transplantation.” She praised the families of deceased donors for their selfless act of giving, describing them as “an inspiration for the entire country.”
Smt. Patel highlighted the critical need to promote organ donation from deceased and brain stem dead individuals to address the significant organ shortage in the country. “One organ donor can give new life to up to 8 people,” she noted, echoing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s emphasis on the importance of organ donation.
While acknowledging India’s progress in organ donation, Smt. Patel pointed out that countries like Spain, the USA, and China are ahead in this area. She urged officials to ensure that no received organs are wasted before transplantation, stressing the importance of efficiency in the process.
Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, the Guest of Honour, addressed the challenge of bridging the gap between organ demand and supply. He called for institutional reforms in government hospitals and encouraged more institutions to provide organ transplantation services. Dr. Paul also noted the inclusion of kidney transplantation under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and urged insurance companies to cover organ transplantation costs. He lauded the Union Government’s efforts, including the “One Nation, One Policy” initiative, which has streamlined organ donation processes by removing domicile and age-related restrictions.
Union Health Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra spoke on the need to enhance awareness about organ donation, citing that most organ donations occur among family members. He emphasized the need for improved systems to prevent organ wastage, highlighting the importance of timely organ harvesting and transplantation.
During the ceremony, Smt. Patel honored the families of ten deceased donors and four organ recipients. Awards were also presented to various organizations and institutions for their contributions to organ donation and transplantation. Notable winners included ROTTO North-PGIMER, Chandigarh (Best ROTTO Award), Telangana (Best SOTTO/State), and Yashoda Hospital, Secundrabad (Best Hospital in Private Sector with Highest Deceased Donation Award).
The event also saw the launch of an e-Newsletter, NOTTO’s Annual Report, and the Organ Transport Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) manual. The “Angdaan Mahotsav” campaign, part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, and the “Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan” were highlighted as key initiatives to promote organ donation awareness across the country.
For more information on organ donation and to pledge, citizens are encouraged to visit NOTTO’s website or call the toll-free helpline at 180114770.
The 14th IODD serves as a crucial platform to address the organ donation gap and inspire more individuals to participate in this life-saving cause.
