‘Need to sensitise foreigners on organ transplant in India’

IT STATED that when the donor or recipient is a foreign national, then prior approval of the authorisation committee shall be required before removing or transplanting human organ or tissue or both

The Union health ministry has written to the ministries of external affairs and home affairs underlining the need to sensitise foreign nationals visiting India for organ transplants about guidelines and legal requirements that regulate the process in the country.

Union health secretary Apurva Chandra in his letter noted that India has emerged as one of the leading destinations for foreign nationals to get their organs transplanted owing to world-class health facilities and highly skilled medical professionals.

“It is essential for these foreign nationals visiting India for organ transplant to understand the specific guidelines and legal requirements that regulate the process of organ transplantation in India,” Mr Chandra said in the letter.

In order to sensitise the foreign nationals who visit India on medical visa for organ transplantation along with addressal of their queries regarding rules pertaining to the same, the ministry of health has prepared scroll messages and creatives, and the health secretary urged dissemination by displaying it on the websites/portals of bureau of immigration under Ministry of home affairs and at airports as well as on the websites of ministry of external affairs and Embassies and missions of India abroad.

The scroll messages stated that when the donor or recipient is a foreign national, then prior approval of the authorisation committee shall be required before removing or transplanting human organ or tissue or both. No Indian living donor is permitted to donate his organ(s) to a foreigner, recipient unless he is a near relative of the recipient, the message stated.

In April, Dr Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) had urged all states and UTs to ensure regular collection and sharing of data of all transplant cases including those of foreigners, with National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) on a monthly basis.

He had urged them to investigate any violations and take appropriate action, including suspension of registration for performing organ transplant, of the hospitals involved in illegal activities.