The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) recently proposed significant changes to deceased donor organ allocation in India. Specifically, the organization suggests prioritizing women in organ allocation, a move designed to address the persistent gender disparity in transplantation. This progressive step seeks to ensure more equitable access to life-saving organs for female patients.
Understanding Gender Disparity in Organ Allocation
Studies reveal a notable imbalance where women, despite constituting a large percentage of organ donors, receive fewer transplants than men. For instance, between 2019 and 2023, women accounted for 63.8% of living organ donations. Yet, men received organs at approximately 2.3 times the rate of women. Consequently, this disparity highlights deep-seated societal and systemic issues. Factors like patriarchal ideologies, financial dependency, and even late diagnoses for women contribute to this gap.
NOTTO’s New Directives for Women Organ Allocation
To combat this imbalance, NOTTO has advised states and Union Territories to make provisions for allocating additional points to women recipients of deceased donor organs. This initiative forms part of a broader 10-point advisory issued by NOTTO. The objective remains creating a fairer and more transparent organ donation and transplantation process across the nation.
Broader Impact and Additional Measures
Beyond prioritizing women, NOTTO’s advisory includes other crucial measures. For example, it suggests giving priority to near relatives of deceased donors who may require a transplant themselves. Furthermore, the directive emphasizes ensuring dignified funerals for deceased donors, acknowledging their invaluable contribution. Many states already mandate senior officials to attend such funerals. Transparency in the system is also a key focus. All transplant cases, whether living or deceased donor, will receive a unique NOTTO-ID. Moreover, all transplant centers must submit data to a national digital registry to enhance accountability.
India achieved a record 18,911 organ transplants in 2024, a significant increase from fewer than 5,000 in 2013. Of these, 3,403 (17%) involved organs from deceased donors in 2024-25. Despite this progress, India’s organ donation rate remains below one per million population, a stark contrast to global leaders like Spain. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda highlighted the alarming rise in organ failures, stressing the need for robust transplant systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why is NOTTO prioritizing women in organ allocation?
NOTTO is prioritizing women in organ allocation to address the significant gender disparity in organ transplantation in India. Studies show that while women are frequent organ donors, they receive fewer organs than men.
Q2: What other measures has NOTTO suggested?
In addition to prioritizing women, NOTTO has suggested giving priority to near relatives of deceased donors and ensuring dignified funerals for deceased donors. The organization also mandates unique IDs for all transplant cases and submission of data to a national digital registry.
Q3: How many organ transplants were performed in India in 2024-25?
India performed close to 19,000 organ transplants in 2024-25. Approximately 3,403 (17%) of these transplants utilized organs from deceased donors.
References
- NOTTO wants women prioritised inallocation of deceased donor organs – ETHealthworld
- Gender Disparities In Organ Donation And Transplantation In India: A Call For Equality – ResearchGate
- India’s Organ Donation Rate Remains Below One Per Million: Government Report – Business Standard
- NOTTO’s 10-Point Plan Prioritises Women in Organ Transplants – GKToday
- Gender Disparity in Organ Transplants – Drishti IAS
- Women, kin of deceased donors to get priority in organ transplant, says govt. – The Hindu
- New Rules Notified for Organ Transplant Allocation – Vajiram & Ravi
- India’s organ transplant paradox: women donate the most and receive the least – The BMJ
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