National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) – Role, Functions

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) established at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi is apex body of India under the aegis of Ministry of health. As part of this, it chairs the National Organ Transplant Program, provides organ and tissue donation coordination, maintains the national donor-recipient registry and advocates for deceased organ donation, all within the framework of legislaion in place – The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act. NOTTO’s work increases organ availability, simplifies transplantation and raises awareness across the nation.

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NOTTO, based in New Delhi, is India’s apex body for organ and tissue transplantation. It manages national registries, coordinates donation and distribution, promotes awareness, provides training, and guides policies, making it relevant for Prelims, GS-II, and GS-III.

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National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO)

Full Form: National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization

What is NOTTO:

NOTTO is India’s apex national body responsible for coordinating and overseeing organ and tissue donation and transplantation. It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is headquartered at Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinating organ and tissue donation and transplantation across India.
• Maintaining a national registry of organ donors and recipients.
• Promoting deceased organ donation to increase organ availability.
• Regulating transplantation activities under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.
• Implementing the National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP) for equitable allocation.

Purpose and Role

NOTTO is India’s apex national body for coordinating and overseeing organ and tissue donation and transplantation. It serves as the central implementing body for the National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP). Its primary goals are:

• Ensuring equitable allocation of organs.
• Promoting deceased organ donation.
• Streamlining the procurement, storage, and distribution of organs and tissues.
• Maintaining a national registry of donors and recipients.
• Providing training, guidance, and consultancy on legal, ethical, and medical aspects of transplantation.

Structure

NOTTO operates as part of the National Human Organs and Tissues Removal and Storage Network, which includes:

• Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs)
• State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOS)

Divisions within NOTTO:

1. National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network
2. National Biomaterial Centre

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Key Functions and Responsibilities

• Application of NOTP: Facilitating the access to transplantation by the means of organized deceased organ donation.
• Coordination and Networking: Playing the critical role of organizing the link between the states, hospitals and transplant centers.
• National Registry: Keeping records of donor-recipient information that would allow fair and timely distribution.
• Marketing and Awareness: Enlightening the society on organ donation.
• Regulation and Monitoring: Regulation of transplants should be in line with the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.
• Training and Consultancy: Providing them with advises on the ethical, legal and medical issues to the professionals.

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Significance of NOTTO

1. Improves the Availability of Organs for Transplantation
   NOTTO coordinates procurement, storage, and distribution of organs nationwide, maintains a national registry, and links regional organizations to ensure timely allocation, reducing shortages and increasing transplant availability for patients in need.
2. Ensures Transparent and Ethical Organ Allocation
   NOTTO sets protocols under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, ensuring organs are allocated fairly based on medical urgency and compatibility, preventing misuse, and maintaining ethical and trustworthy transplantation practices.
3. Supports Health Governance in Organ and Tissue Transplantation
   As the apex body under the Ministry of Health, NOTTO oversees transplant activities, coordinates state and regional bodies, issues guidelines, monitors compliance, and strengthens governance and regulation across the transplantation system.
4. Promotes Awareness and Participation in Deceased Organ Donation
   NOTTO organizes campaigns and training to educate the public and healthcare professionals, encouraging deceased organ donation, increasing organ availability, and fostering societal acceptance of organ transplantation across India.

Conclusion

In an Indian context the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is the agency that gets involved in coordinating organ and tissue donation procedures, keeping the national registries and fostering deceased donation. Its initiatives make the allocation ethical, enhance governance and enhance access to transplantation. Transplanting standardised policies combined with awareness creation and training can achieve significant results in saving lives and developing a culture of organ donation, which makes NOTTO the foundation of India in its quest to improve healthcare equity and efficiency in transplantation services.

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