- KR Bharat
- 2025-12-18
India’s organ donation and transplantation system is undergoing a major transformation under the Centre’s ‘One Nation, One Policy’ initiative, aimed at improving transparency, reducing organ wastage and curbing transplant tourism.
Under the new framework, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has been designated as the central authority for organ allocation across the country. All State-level bodies, including Telangana’s Jeevandan, are being integrated into NOTTO, bringing India’s organ donation system under a single national regulatory umbrella led by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A key reform under the policy is the removal of domicile-based restrictions, ensuring that organs are allocated purely on medical urgency, waiting time and compatibility rather than state of residence. This uniform allocation model is intended to prevent wealthy patients from relocating to states with lenient rules to bypass local waiting lists.
The policy also seeks to minimise organ wastage by enabling faster, nationwide sharing of available organs and improving coordination between transplant centres. By centralising registrations and standardising procedures, authorities aim to ensure that donated organs reach the most deserving patients, regardless of location.
Officials believe the move will strengthen ethical practices, enhance public trust in the transplant system and create a fair, transparent and efficient organ donation network across India.
