Tamil Nadu has been honoured with the prestigious award for the best State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). The recognition was presented during the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day event held recently. The award was received by Health Minister Ma. Subramanian from Union Health Minister Mansukh L. Mandaviya in New Delhi.
Since the inception of the deceased donor organ transplantation program in 2008, Tamil Nadu has achieved remarkable success. The state has witnessed a total of 1,706 donors, resulting in life-saving transplants that include 786 hearts, 801 lungs, 1,566 livers, 3,047 kidneys, 37 pancreas, six small bowels, two stomachs, and four hands. Additionally, 3,950 minor organs and tissues have been successfully transplanted, as per official data.
Tamil Nadu’s commitment to organ transplantation is reflected in its substantial network of hospitals with organ retrieval licenses. The state initially had 13 government hospitals and 120 private hospitals licensed for organ retrieval. After productive consultative meetings with government medical college hospital deans, this number was expanded to 40 government hospitals that are now authorized for organ retrieval.
‘Tamil Nadu now boasts the highest number of government and private hospitals possessing organ retrieval licenses in the country,’ said Health Minister Subramanian
A significant advancement in organ allocation transparency has been the introduction of the Vidiyal automated web-cum-mobile app in August 2021. This innovation has allowed the government to allocate organs fairly based on patient seniority, ensuring a transparent and unbiased distribution process.
Health Minister Subramanian highlighted the success of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, which offers coverage of up to 22 lacks for organ transplants. This scheme has played a pivotal role in supporting organ donation and transplantation efforts across the state.
In the face of these achievements, Tamil Nadu continues to lead the way in organ donations, with 1,705 generous individuals contributing to the successful transplantation of organs and benefiting 6,247 recipients. The state’s unwavering commitment to raising awareness and maintaining transparent organ allocation policies has been instrumental in securing the award for the best-performing state in organ donation at the national level.
