Health ministry concerned over hospitals not sharing data on organ transplants

The Union health ministry has written to states expressing “serious concern” over hospitals not sharing data on organ transplants and registering them on the National Transplant Registry. The letter pointed out that many registered transplant hospitals have persistently failed to submit daily and monthly data, thereby impeding the transparency and facilitation of equitable organ allocation.

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, under the health ministry’s Directorate General of Health Services, is entrusted with the statutory responsibility of establishing and maintaining a National Transplant Registry pursuant to Section 13D of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.

The health ministry said that this registry is essential for monitoring organ and tissue transplantations to ensure transparency, facilitate equitable organ allocation, and support policy-making. The letter said : “It is a matter of serious concern that many registered transplant hospitals have persistently failed to submit the daily and monthly data on organ transplantation activities and register transplantations on the National Transplant Registry. Such non-compliance undermines NOTTO’s ability to fulfil its obligations and impedes the objective of augmenting organ donation rates nationwide.”

Referring to previous communications highlighting the need for comprehensive data sharing, the letter pointed out that as per provisions of the THOTA Act, 1994, all registered hospitals are required to maintain records of transplantation activities and report them to NOTTO through the respective State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations.

The letter requested the states to direct hospitals or transplant centres to furnish comprehensive data. “Data related to deceased as well as living donors and recipients must be compiled, verified and submitted to NOTTO through the respective SOTTO and ROTTO on a monthly basis.”