New organ transplant hub stuck over funds

Politics seems to be coming in the way of providing facilities to the poor and needy people. In spite of a plot being allotted in the civic-run KEM Hospital for setting up of Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO), the hospital authorities are unable to start the construction work for the centre as funds worth Rs 80 lakh out of the Rs 5 crore allotted for it lapsed last year.

Sources in the municipal health department stated that the Central government had issued Rs 43 crore to the state’s nursing department, of which Rs 22 crore has been utilised and Rs 15 crore was not utilised. Following this, the Centre had asked the department to submit a utilisation certificate stating the records of resources utilised and reason for the resources which are not utilised. “However, the department failed to submit the certificate and the Central government decided not to release any funds to the health department until this issue is resolved,” said a senior official from the health department.

State nursing department officials were not available for comment.

Senior officials from the hospital and Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre wonder as to why the hospital and patients should suffer because of the lenient approach of some other department. “The amount of Rs 80 lakh was the first phase amount out of Rs 5 crore which has been allotted for the setting up of ROTTO centre at KEM hospital; however, those funds lapsed last year which has delayed the construction work. In spite of having a plot ready for the centre, we are unable to do anything as we have not received ROTTO funds.” When asked, Dr Avinash Supe, dean of KEM Hospital said, “We have written numerous letters to the Central government asking them to directly give us the ROTTO funds so that such problems do not rise. Due to technical errors in the department, we are facing difficulties in setting up the centre which will only delay in providing the services to the patients in need. We have asked the Central government to look into this matter and issue funds immediately so that it doesn’t take a toll on the poor people and now we are waiting for their reply.”

The setting up of ROTTO is expected to help a number of poor patients in need of a transplant. They will be able to get some money from the government under a scheme. Also, through ROTTO, transplant co-ordinators can be provided in every hospital to help those in need.