NOTTO Initiatives

NOTTO Initiatives

Recently, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) issued key initiatives regarding cornea and tissue transplants to improve the efficiency and accessibility of transplant services in India.

Key Initiatives:

1. Centralised Database:
   • NOTTO is working on developing a centralised database to track and manage patients awaiting cornea and other tissue transplants. This initiative aims to streamline the allocation process and ensure better matching and distribution of available organs and tissues.
2. Mandatory Data Linking:
   • All organ transplant and retrieval centres, cornea transplant centres, and tissue banks are required to link their data to NOTTO's national registry. This ensures centralised tracking and coordination across various transplant facilities.
3. Eye Banks Performance:
   • Eye banks are expected to collect a minimum of 50 eyes or 100 corneas per year to maintain operational efficiency and support the transplant network.
   • As per the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (THOTA), eye banks must collect at least 500 corneas over five years to maintain their certification and continue their operations.
4. Presumed Consent for Cornea Donation:
   • NOTTO is considering an opt-out model for cornea donation, where hospital deaths will be presumed to be cornea donors unless the individual has explicitly opted out. This initiative aims to increase the availability of corneas for transplantation by making donations more automatic, unless otherwise specified.

About NOTTO:
NOTTO is the apex body established under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to monitor and regulate organ and tissue transplant services across India. It plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency of organ donation, allocation, and transplant processes, ensuring better coordination and transparency in the system.

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